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Joseph Ware. 



THE DIVINE MAN 



A NEW EPIC 



By 
JOSEPH WARE 



The True Light Publishing Company 
mtcmanicsburg. ohio. l. s. a. 

AND 

LONDOK, ENGLAND 
1905 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

DEC 7 1905 

Copyright Entry 

CLASS ex. X)lc, No. 
/ f d~V/ 

COPY B. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1905 

BY JOSEPH WARE 
in the oficc of the Librarian of Congress at Washington 



Registered at Stationers' Hall, London, England 



Crekd 
THt: IRUTH IN LOVE 



WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE 

TRUE, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE HONEST, 

WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE PURE, WHATSOEVER 

THINGS ARE LOVELY, WHATSOEVER 

THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT; 

THINK ON THESE THINGS 



Ritual 
LOVING OBEDIENCE 



PREVIEW 

The Theme of this poem is the progressive creation and the 
coronation of the highest life in man. The dawning of the day 
of rational evangehsm begins. Truth is Truth, as God is God; 
man is fallible. Astronomical facts are the same whether Ptolemy 
or Copernicus teach ; so the verities of the Kingdom of Heaven 
are not in the least affected by our beliefs or unbeliefs. Although 
our minds arc not infallible, they are the highest court in our 
natures to which we can appeal. God in His law and word is . 
over all ; equally true is it that only through our intellects can He 
be known and certified to us. 

That there is a law of gravity is reasonably certain ; that 
there is a law of universal progression is no less sure. The dis- 
covery and acceptance of the first required a complete change in 
what seemed to be actual, observed facts ; no less the acceptance 
of the other and greater law, will require a complete reversal of 
many of our former beliefs. The interpretation of the beautiful 
allegory in the first chapters of Genesis as being literal may be 
considered a mistake. That two insignificant persons by a single 
act could thwart the purposes of an Almighty God, and involve 
in endless ruin countless millions of human lives, seems to be both 

brutal and absurd. 

(5) 



PREVIEW 



That eternal duration is eternal progressive creation ; that the 
laws of God are His very nature ; and that they have been work- 
ing from the beginning to bring the life of man up to the high 
estate of love, even to God, accords with reason. That the suf- 
fering of Christ was to change the nature of God, and make His 
laws forbear their natural consequences, is not reasonable ; but 
that he came to save from disobedience is the highest concep- 
tion of mercy. 

Look everywhere and you will find that growth for a pur- 
pose is an unfailing attribute of life. The slightest permanent 
retrogression under the operation of this law might be regarded as 
an impeachment of Divine Power. Nowhere in the bible have we 
been able to find the expression, "the fall of man." If the Omni- 
potent is having His will (if not, He alone is at fault) how could 
He consistently be angry? Would it not relieve us of many 
absurdities should we interpret the expression, "the wrath of 
God," to mean, the uncompromising spirit of His laws against 
the evil and the harmful ; and to interpret "Heaven," as the ex- 
pression of the highest good to us in our harmony with God's will, 
by perfect obedience to His laws, especially to the all compre- 
hending law of love ? Therefore heaven is in us, nay, we are our 
heaven. Obedience is love, is worship. Cannot the entire world 
come together on this simple and yet fundamental creed and ritual, 
Trinitarian, Unitarian, Universalist, and those who have hereto- 



PREVIEW 



fore been called Atheist, Sceptic, Agnostic? I forbear to mention 
the merely denominational differences. 

Has it ever impressed you that our disagreements are largely 
about matters in which wo have no voice, atui very few of thcni 
about our own duties and privileges? These have been ridden 
over and trampled down in our fierce battles about such questions 
as election, free grace, future punishment, etc. Let us cease our 
puny invasion of God's domain and enlist, one and all. under the 
glorious banner of all-conquering Love. 

The aspiration of my life is to put this law of universal pro- 
gression into a worthy Epic form. No man could successfully 
execute such an undertaking without a special call, and inspira- 
tion, also adaptation, and preparation ; a preparation not in schools 
and theological seminaries, but in the constant accumulation of 
relevant facts, in untrammeled thought, and in constant reliance 
for truth on direct inspiration. Many times have I awakened 
from a sound sleep, not only with the thought, but with the 
arrangement of the lines in perfect order. Classical allusions have 
not been sought, however poetical. Common religious expressions 
have been avoided, though of long and hallowed usage; also the 
too common expressions of God's vengeance on sinners, whirling 
them from hottest flames of sulphur into Arctic beds of ice. con- 
fining them in vats oi white hot metal, with the lids shut down — 
only reflections of the cruelty of barbarism. You may regret to 
lose tlie crystal walls of heaven, the pearly gates and golden 



PREVIEW 



Streets ; yet these are low and earthly estimates, born of covetous- 
ness ; they are not even the most precious symbols of value. Some- 
thing infinitely better is yours. The Kingdom of heaven is not a 
distant promise, but a most blessed and present realization. 
Neither is the war in heaven with spear and shield, horses and 
chariots from the stabled hills, or cannon belching nitre, boasting 
of angel leaders, bombastic speeches of the Father and Son, but it 
is waged by the helpful and the adverse in our daily lives. 

Heretofore it has been the fault of those who have lost their 
faith in the old, to ruthlessly tear down, burying in the ruins the 
most sacred treasures of the human heart — an unrequited labor, 
for they have only received the dust and moil upon themselves. 
The right endeavor vt^ill be to build of truth a temple beautiful. 
The unworthy will be stimulated to better thinking and living; 
the devout worshipper will be happy to realize God's immanence ; 
the deist will rejoice to have his God divested of unworthy human 
attributes ; the atheist will accept a deity that accords with reason. 

"And it came to pass, about an eight days after these sayings, 
he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain 
to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was 
altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, 
there talked with him two men, which were Tvloses and Elias : who 
appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should 
accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him 



PREVIEW 9 

wcrt- heavy with sleep : and when they were awake, they saw his 
glory, and the two njcn that stood with him. And it came to pass, 
as they df|)artc<| from him, Peter said unto Jesus, "Master, it is 
good for us to he here : and let us make three tabeniacles ; one 
for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias :" not knowing 
wiial he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and over- 
shatlowe«l liiem : and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 
And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, 'This is my be- 
loved Son : hear him." .And when the voice was past, Jesus was 
fomid alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days 
any of those things which they had seen." Luke IX, 28-36. 

On this short narrative is founded the argument of the poem. 
Moses and Elijah came early to the mountain, and very naturally 
turned to the scenes of their former lives on earth, also conversed 
of their hcavtniy occupations. Many other spirits came to par- 
ticipate in the scenes of the world's greatest event. Here, by con- 
.sent, Jesus gave himself a willing sacrifice to love; on Calvary, 
he only carried out his part of the covenant now agreed upon. 
At this lime he "entered into that within the vail." Hence the 
transfiguratiou is the crowning point in his history, and in 
the salvation «»f tlie race. The whole poem hears witness to its 
supreme importance. Therefore his resurrection and ascension 
follow as natural consequences. 

"ytbout an ci(^ht days." Jesus uses this important time in a 
complete consecration for his glorification. The disciples occupy 



10 PREVIEW 



it in noting and recording his birth and boyhood, and some typical 
events in his ministry. In this interval the Sanhedrin meets and 
condemns him to death. 

"And the fashion of his countenance was altered." He is 
the first in his humanity to enter into the perfect state. 

"But Pcicr and they that zvere zvith him ivere heavy ivith 
sleep" — inspired visions of the progress and final triumph of the 
new kingdom. 

The theme of the Iliad is the contention of gods and of heroes, 
for the destruction of Troy; the Aeneid, its re-establishment; 
Paradise Lost, the fall of man ; The Divine Man, or New Epic, 
the progress of man to final perfection in the kingdom of heaven. 

Not until novv' could the transfiguration be told, because the 
world was not prepared to receive it ; not enough advancement 
had been made in this new kingdom of life to make it explainable. 

Trace carefully through all the poem the law of universal 
progression. In the first book, the foundation of our confidence is 
laid in the nature of Divine Love. In the second, we follow this 
progression through the creation of the world, and the growth of 
life from a single cell to man, as Adam. The third advances it 
from the faintest moral perception, guided by the most obscure 
promises, through the mists of superstition and idolatry up to the 
clear prophecies and revelations. The fourth links progress with 
the dominion of the world and the universe. The fifth is the 
incarnation of the Divine Love. The sixth gives some glimpses 



PREVIEW 



II 



of its power. The seventh hook, in the debate of the Sanhcclrin, 
shows the futility of the endeavor to hinder it. The eiglitli book 
opens the door into the kingdom of heaven. In the ninth Jesus 
teaches of tliis kingdom. In Uu- tenth is the coronation of the 
hfc. In tiic eleventh and twelfth you have some glimpses of its 
future progress. 

In humbleness of spirit I have told you what to look for in 
the poem. If you find it even so, give to God the glory. 




INDEX OF BOOKS 
ti -a 

PREVIKW 5 

Invocation 15 

I — Mki:tin«; ok Mosi-.s and I".iii\ii 16 

II — CkKATlUN 37 

III riATIIKKINC OK EaKTHLV Si'lUliS 57 

IV — AssKMKLiNr, OK i UK Hkavknlv Hosts ... 79 

V — Birth and r.oviiooi) ok Jk.^ls loo 

VI — KvKNTS i.N Tin. LiKi: ok Jksls 123 

Vn — Mkktinc; ok tiik Saniikdkin 144 

\'III — CONSKl RATION OK JkSI S 167 

IX JoiRNKV TO TIIK MOINTAIN 1 8.^ 

X — Transkicluation 206 

XI — \'isi()Ns OK Pktkr and Jamk-s 22S 

Xn — Vision ok John 233 

EriTHALAMILM 278 

(13) 



INVOCATION 

« <; 

A virgin is my love, twin-born of Trutli. 
O conic witli nie, nor stay, thou fairest One. 
Thy sunny tresses bound with nature's flowers. 
Kirtled in light, as plain as angel robe. 
One song, only one song, T crave of thee ; 
Though of the earth, it first was sung in heaven, 
Ar.tiphonal with stars and angel shoui ; 
Chanted it was in ancient prophecy, 
And by the multitude o'er Judah's hills. 
That in the clouds shall shout the glad Amen. 
T cannot plead that God will give thee me, 
Less than the least ; it may be that I lis love 
Will honor love. If He should give me thee, 
The glory shall be Tlis alone. 
(15) 



BOOK I 

ARGUMENT 

Jesus, as a representative of the Iiuman race, is about to be 
glorified on the mount of transfiguration. Moses and Elijah, the 
representatives of law and prophecy, are summoned as special wit- 
nesses. In their eagerness to re-enter their beloved land, they 
have come somewhat in advance. Naturally, they first take a 
view of their native country, and then converse of their glorious 
occupations before coming. The ardent Elijah gives an a{)Ostro- 
phe to Divine Love, as a climax to his description of a satellite of 
Sirius, which resembles the earth in its conditions, but has attained 
a perfect development. Moses then recounts his efforts to dis- 
cover the bounds of God's loving presence. Elijah further illus- 
trates this love by the notes of the musical scale; also in' his 
experience in the cave of Mount Sinai. The book concludes with 
a psalm. 

I sing the one great Epic theme, 

The coronation of the Son of Man, 

The apotheosis of human life, 

And the creative purpose when the earth 

Was called from chaos dark to form and light. 

The scenes beheld within that highest realm 

Shall raise our groveling thoughts to spirit life. 

Who think of God as of a man enthroned 

(16) 



Book I THE DIVINE MAN 17 

In a mysterious heaven ; but this is truth, 

God is eternal spirit, infinite, 

As are His works; nothing can he so small, 

But smaller is ; not boundless ether fields 

Can bound the infinite ; and every place 

Is therefore central to the universe ; 

God dwelleth then in every i)art alike, 

Or truer, dwelleth everything in God. 

Why should we long for an exclusive heaven. 

Even a city walled with precious stones. 

Having twelve gates of solid pearl, that swing 

On golden hinges with sweet harmony, 

A few elected saints to welcome in 

To golden streets and diamond palaces? 

The truth is this, there are no walls of heaven, 
But our capacities ; no gates, but faith ; 
Xo locks or bars, but will ; no key, but love. 

Things of the spirit, though intangible. 
Are truest, most enduring, and sublime; 
Almost impossible to be expressed ; 
Only the spirit has the power at will. 

S 



l8 THE DIVINE MAN Book i 

When the occasion justifies, to appear 
Or disappear ; as did the risen Christ. 
Sweet spirit, show to us these hidden truths. 
How God assumed our flesh, became the Word 
Expressing the Eternal, telhng love 
Divine ; and, entering in himself, became 
A door in heaven opening floods of light. 
* * * * 

High and apart doth honored Tabor lift 
His wooded sides above Esdraelon's plain ; 
Touches with purpling top the clouds of heaven, 
Outspread it forms an ample theatre. 
As if by power divine 'twas shaped to be 
Where heaven the most should flood the earth with light, 
And life and love supreme be crowned of God. 

There, to the open vision could be seen 
Two figures standing in the evening glow. 
Viewing the spreading scene magnificent. 
One had upon his noble brov; a light, 
The horn of power, and on his kingly face 
The saint's shekina shone. The ample folds 
Of his great purple robe denoted strength ; 



Book I THE DIVINi: MAN 19 



His sandals worn had walked the wilderness ; 
In his ripht hand he held a shepherd's crook, 
Was miphtier than the sceptre of the Nile. 
A prince he was, the loader of his race, 
The jurist of all time, warrior and sage, 
Inspired historian, and friend of God ; 
And yet he was the meekest man of men. 
Moses had now assumed his fleshly form, 
Had come at last into the Promised Land. 

The other was in coarser garments clad, 
And yet the crimsoned clouds no more ohscure 
The rising sun, than these his character. 
He had in hand a much used traveller's staflF; 
His hair and beard falling upon his breast 
And shoulders framed a face of fiery zeal. 
Elijah had assumed his former self, 
Had come a witness to his prophecy. 

And they had come ere the appointed time 
To view their much loved country and converse 
On worthy themes. The sun first met their gaze 



20 



THE DIVINE MAN Book I 



As he would quench his fiery nature in 
The western sea. Green Carmel stood before 
The glow ; and here had been the prophet's watch 
For the expected rain. Half turning, then 
They saw great Hermon's hoary head above 
The northern hills. Nearer, Genneseret, 
The deep blue lake held in its loving hills, 
Was whitened with the sails of fishing ships ; 
Thence Jordan's winding course of watered green 
Goes downward to the silent Sea of Death. 

Beyond, and south, they saw the wilderness ; 
From here the prophet had been swept to heaven 
In chariot of fire. Great School of God, 
Here Moses led his people forty years. 
From Pisgah viewed the last of earthly hopes, 
Over against Beth-Peor was laid to rest. 

This barren desert of volcanic rocks, 
Steep mountains, hills with scanty pasturage, 
And valleys watered by uncertain streams, 
Extendeth down to the Egyptian Sea. 



Book I THE DIVINE MAN 21 



Of j^eatest interest was Sinai, 
With head uncovered to the setting sun ; 
Here, hidden in a cloud of mystery, 
Jehovah gave the ceremonial law, 
Gave the appointment.s i>f His curtained liouse, 
Engraved the tables of the moral law, 
Foundation stones of universal law. 

Here Moses sees in fondest memory 
The beautiful young mother of his sons 
Standing before their tent at evening time ; 
He sees his sweet-voiced sister, timbrel raised, 
Leading the vesper hymn ; the white-robed priest, 
His mother's son, offering sacrifice ; 
He sees the nation worshipping, and hears 
Their swelling voices chanting praise to God. 

The prophet's voice broke in his revcry. 
"Behold! the city of Jerusalem I" 
Only three wild and brushy hills it was 
When Moses looked uj)nn the Promised I^nd. 
Mere now the sacred walls of Zion stand, 



22 



THE DIVINE MAN Book I 



And here the temple, glorious to see, 
Is glistering before the setting sun; 
The altar smoke rises into the heavens. 

O what a tableau then upon the mount, 
Of Law and Prophecy personified ! 
Seeing the sacrificial smoke ascend, 
Prefiguring the perfect offering, 
Love's perfect token given once for all. 
The great Lawgiver stands with hand upraised, 
As if he would resign his covenant, 
Its many laws unite in one great law 
Of love; like as the many lesser streams 
Into the deep, wide-flowing river join. 

The prophet with enraptured vision stands, 
The Holy Spirit's representative, 
As through the ages past His work has been 
To preach, to teach, to comfort, warn, invite. 
He sees the Christ upon this honored mount, 
Exemplar of the love of God, received 



Book I THE DIVINE MAN 



23 



Into tlic heavenly realms, shine with its hght, 
Prophetic of a race redeemed. 

Of these 
Important themes the better to converse, 
They now in oriental posture sit ; 
The mountain is their grand divan, the heavens 
Their starry canopy. They not alone 
For information speak, but love and praise 
To Him who merits all. And as the speech 
Of the immortals is direct and true, 
Omitting compliment and flattery, 
So they in the loved language of their race 
Did of the mission of their coming speak. 
And of eternal love in law, and whence 
They came, and how engaged in loved employ. 
Elijah said. "How strange our spirits are, 
Though filled, they still admit of vast increase; 
For to our perfect joy is added joy 
In coming here, such great occasion calls. 
Since this our earth has turned but once around, 



24 



THE DIVINE MAN Book I 



I left yon orb — so eager was my flight, 

For God's requirements are supreme delight. 

That light, so far away it shows a star — 

Men call it Sirius — is central sun 

Unto a satellite, most like our earth, 

And, as our planet, it is third in place, 

With axis so inclined unto that sun, 

Or was, it now a dual turning has, 

As though a whirling ball was in a frame, 

And frame and all did turn another way, 

Only a seventh as fast; this makes the weeks 

Distinct, and every day is different. 

O'er all that world is now perennial spring 

Of leaves and flowers, with autumn's ripened fruits. 

There are no frozen poles, equator's heat, 

Chill nights, or burning noons. Redeemed, they have 

Their blest millenium ; for in the clouds. 

No longer used for inconvenient rain, 

Has their Redeemer set his shining throne; 

And all his saints are herald ministers. 



Book I THE DIVINE MAN 



25 



And all his people arc redeemed from toil, 

For exercise is greatest pleasure now. 

Neither necessity compels, nor greed 

Incites ; nor need they clothes for modesty, 

For all are innocent, and surely not 

For ornament. Their heaven.^; arc new. at least 

In show. Their world is new and old indeed, 

The sea as though it was no more, for one 

Can see and hail the distant shore, and tamed, 

Holds on its hosom cities, farms, and gardens ; 

Also the dweller on the rock singeth 

For vintage ripe. The atmosphere subdued 

Is made a highway smooth, direct, and wide, 

Up to the all enclosing clouds of heaven, 

The capital in which the Prince of Peace 

Reigneth forever in the heart and life. 

One law governs, the perfect law of love. 

Hither the ransomed shall go up with joy 

And gladness, for no fear is in the way. 

Nor sickness, sorrow, pain, nor death arc there. 



26 THE DIVINE MAN Book I 

How grand the prophecy in all of this 

Of when our earth shall have millennial bliss. 

O Love Divine ! incomprehensible 
Even to Cherubim and Seraphim ! 
Greatest archangels, in wisdom nearest God! 
Thy nature finds itself in others good, 
Great ruling motive in the universe, 
Creating, governing, sweet influence 
That doth create an earthly paradise. 
To make us fitted for that blessedness. 
Thy silent, calm, and constant wooing stills 
The wrecking turmoil in the human heart, 
Sweeteneth hate, unroofs the darkest hell. 
Eternal — time with thee can have no span ; 
And Omnipresent — space has no extent; 
For God is love." 

Then Moses, waiting not, 
Replied, "Prophet, as one that journeyeth 
Sees only what is most upon liis mind, 
So you observe the future of his grace; 



Book I THE DIVINE MAN 



27 



So I, the past, and Law, — persistent force 

Of love, order and harmony of all. 

By this attractive force of love we sec 

Atom to atom, substance to substance, world 

To world, system to system, drawn. 

Were it not so, each atom touched by force 

Would fly forever on its selfish course. 

This Infinite is in a blade of grass, 

As in the glories of eternal space. 

The very highest joy spirit can feel 

Is knowing God ; nor can we go amiss, 

Familiar things are all so beautiful. 

Are so designed for blessed use, are all 

So ordered by this perfect law of love. 

I sought to know the limits of this power, 
Passing into the farthest realms of space 
That could be reached in boldest spirit flight. 
Swifter than human thought I passed beyond 
Our planetary fields, here paused to view 
The solar system, a harmonious whole. 



28 THE DIVINE MAN Book I 

I wondered not that some worship the sun, 

Seeing him hold his ponderous satellites 

In yearly orbits, giving liglit and heat 

To all. So perfect their adjustment showed 

That not a single atom might be changed. 

In size and motion, place and brilliancy. 

It was a scale of harmony of thirds 

And sevenths. The colors of the rays were like 

Unto the scale of sounds, in unison, 

With sweet attune, in one great system bound 

By the attractive power of Love Divine. 

And then I onward passed to where the stars 
To man change not their place ; and here I saw 
Seven kindred systems with our own, around 
A common center move in orbits vast, 
Each sang a note in Love's sublimest hymn. 

And as I onward passed, the scene became 
O'erwhelming to my view, systems of systems 



Book I THE DIVINE MAN 



29 



Without end, each scaled in harmony, 

And all in true accord. What glory thrilled 

My spirit as I thought, tlo I behold 

The scheme of all God's universe? Yet on, 

Consumed to know the full extent, I sped 

Into an interval so wide, no ray 

Could penetrate its blank and desert gloom — 

Blackness of darkness — silence absolute — 

Dreadful nonentity — a sudden stop! 

Was this to be my state eternally? 

Annihilation? End of being? Lost? 

And would a numbing fear enchain mc here 

For aye? — unless — O the supremest bliss! 

A loving God was even here ! Inspired 

My farther flight within that chasm of space 

Where the persistent light wearies and dies, 

Until another world-field came in view, 

An order of creation different. 

And then I knew these fields of infinite 

Variety, divided as they are 



30 



THE DIVINE MAN Book I 



By awful spaces, never would have end. 
My spirit sank in wonder and amaze. 
And here the summons of His Spirit bade 
Me haste to view something as wonderful, 
Upon this mount a human being crowned 
And raised into divinity, of all 
The race the promise and the prophecy ; 
Where love, the motive in the universe. 
Finds its expression in the gift of God — 
True way of life, not for the great alone. 
But for the least ; not for the truest, best, 
But for the false and base." 

Elijah said, 
"We trace the evolution of this law 
In human heart and life. Gamut of Love/' 
The prophet's finger here drew in the air 
The lines and spaces of harmonious sound. 
"The first and lowest note that can be made, 
Deep diapason underlying all, 
Is Love of Self, the first great breath of God 



Book I THE DIVINE MAN 



31 



In living things, lie lovctli not at all 
Who lovelh not himself, not all in all, 
One constant note l)cconics monotony. 
Sweet, in the blessed symphony of life. 
Then, strike the note above, the Luvi-: 01 Own. 
In mother instinct first this note is heard ; 
Without it life would stay in dismal flats 
And discords horrible. Another step 
Above is Friendship's note, tender and sweet, 
The calling and the answering of love. 
The first and third are closest harmony, 
Bringing that easier transition called, 
Love of the Beautiful, almost divine. 
Next in the scale is tender Charity, 
That makes us neighbor unto every one 
Who needs our help, touches the minor chord 
Of pity, breathes the softest sympathy. 

Here would we linger, but the Christ has come 
To lead us up to Love Our Enemies. 
These higher notes too hard for us alone 



32 



THE DIVINE MAN Book I 



To reach, he by example teaches us; 
This, and the higher, noble Brotherhood, 
The soul that maketh all the world akin. 
And then the highest note, including all. 
Key to the swelling psalm of life wc reach 
In Love to God. This can we never reach 
Until we pass the ascending scale below. 

There is no theme in all the universe 
Grander than this ; for the inanimate 
Obeys unquestioning the sacred force, 
The quickened spirit chooses the divine, 
Knowing as Gods the evil and the good 
It makes the blessed choice, honored the more, 
Joins in the universal hymn of love 
And praise. For this has our Redeemer come 
To upward lead the way." 

Then Moses said, 
"The colors show an equal harmony, 
And yet each shade is but a partial light ; 
So the discordant things of human life 



Book I THE DIVINE MAN 



33 



Arc the refractions of accordant love. 
Rvil is incompleteness in the hfe. 
The crimson ray alone, is love of self; 
Blended with every other love it makes 
The perfect and completed light of God. 

The sun is glorious in giving light. 
Giving without restraint, and not one ray 
Is lost, hut meets response sometime, somewhere, 
In God's great universe. Its light withheld, 
'Twould only be a blacker spot in heaven. 

Jesus has come to live that perfect life 
Of giving, though not practical as yet, 
For gospel giving now is sacrifice; 
Naught of its sacred influence shall he lost, 
In the eternal somewhere it will find 
JResponse. I'y his example we shall give 
And gain alike, then all things shall be ours." 



Elijah then. "Nine hundred years ago 
Back-slidden Israel made it appear 
As if the world was lost to love and God. 



8 



34 



THE DIVINE MAN Book I 



To show His power and give encouragement 

He bade me go to Sacred Sinai. 

My cloistered dwelling place was in that cave 

Where thou six hundred years before had seen 

The God of love — like vision for like cause. 

And praying far into the night I too 

His glory asked to see. Now was there heard 

The distant rumbling of a mountain storm. 

I looked, the sky was suddenly o'ercast — 

Mountains are not below but in the clouds — 

The awful Spirit of the tempest drives 

The furious blasts, with streaming lightning lashed, 

O'er riven craig, across the blasted peaks ; 

Beneath his wheels the flying rifts are whirled; 

With rolling thunder shakes the mountain firm. 

Although my heart was strong, the coming storm 
Gave me no vision but destruction. Then 
The crashing thunders made the earth to quake, 
I only feared ; the constant Slashes set 
The heavens ablaze, but in the blinding fire 



Book I THE DIVINE MAN 



35 



The world had no assurance of His care. 

The sudden storm as suddenly had passed. 
The stars came f(jrth. the distant rumblings ceased, 
And all was still again. 

I stood without, 
With mantle wrapped about my face, and heard 
A still, small voice calming my troubled soul, 
Stilling the awful storm of doubt and fear, 
Giving assurance of His saving grace. 

I recognize that quiet voice to-day 
In his who speaks the raging sea to calm. 
Nor shouts, nor cries, but speaks the words of God, 
Comforts with gentle words the sorrowing, 
And heals disease, and calls the dead to life. 
And as a shepherd with familiar voice 
Calleth to pastures green, by waters still." 

Now, they together sang, spontaneously, 
A psalm such as the wise immortals sing. 

O God, whose name is unpronounceable, 
And glorious presence unapproachable, 



36 THE DIVINE MAN Book I 

Thy dwelling place is all eternity, 
And thy possession is the universe. 

Even the dazzling and enormous suns 
Are only glittering mote dust unto Thee. 

The planets and the earth on which we stand 
Appear as less than nothing in Thy sight; 

Yet the infinitesimal is formed 

And kept with equal and unfailing care, 

Also the poor and weak Thou dost regard, 
Helpeth the poor and needy when they cry. 

The lowly contrite heart dost not despise, 
And lifteth up the humble from the dust. 

And the begotten life is to be raised 
To share Thy throne forevermore, Amen. 



J 



BOOK II 
it « 

ARGUMENT 

Moses continues the conversation witii Elijah, f^iving an 
account of his vision of the Divine Glory, in the progress of 
life from chaos to Adam. 

Now time, 
As measured by the cycles of the earth, 
Grew toward its fulness, when creation comes 
Unto its meaning, axis of duration. 
The grand and living present, where tlie past 
Has end, the future takes its date : 

And yet, 
One quarter of the hour only had passed, 
So swiftly the immortals move and speak. 
Moses continued the great theme. 

"I, too. 
Kneeling in that same cave, most ardently 
Desired to know the presence of the I^ord. 
And suddenly the cavern's mouth was closed 
As by the placing of a giant hand. 

(37) 



38 THE DIVINE MAN Book II 

Shut in the darkness of that cave, I saw 
Only the skirtings of His power; no man 
Can in his body greater see and Hve. 
Awhile, mine eyes intent could nothing see, 
No ray came from a chaos dark and void. 
Then, o'er the formless, silent, cold, abyss 
The brooding spirit moved upon the deep; 
By the attractive influence of love 
Together drew the primal elements; 
And in their union said, "Let there be light," 
And there was light, condensing energy. 
Then far within that chasm there was a tint 
Of color; soon great streams of crimson light 
Shot swiftly outward to the far extremes. 
And fronded, gathering in the darkness, then 
Fell back in sweeping clouds of swirling mist. 
Ever the outward grew and inward brightened, 
Then, a misty point of light appeared, 
As when a star is seen within the glow 
Of early dawn, increased until it was 



Book II THE DIVINE MAN 



J9 



A dazzlinp and enormous globe of light, 
That robbed mine eyes of vision. I awoke. 
Darkness, I called the nij.;ht ; the light, called day. 
And God approved tin- nature of the light, 
By which His purposes are served in life. 
Yet the duration passed cannot be told, 
I'^or time had not begun. Darkness and light 
Made the first day my vision had advanced. 



Again it seemed as if that giant hand 

The entrance closed. A tremor shook my I'cing, 

That fiery ball had burst ; had there been air. 

The shock of the explosion would have made 

All other sounds a silence absolute. 

Out of that whitehot mass the fragments flew 

In blazing tracks, as they were flashing spokes 

Of monster chariot wheel. Before the wrack 

They would have made, unchecked, conception falls. 

But see ! they turn ! Their fiery energy 
Weighed to a grain is met liy gravity ; 



40 THE DIVINE MAN Book II 

Into their yearly orbits they are turned, 

Upon their daily axes whirled ; in form 

Are held by this same force. The central ball, 

Our sun, has also had an impetus 

That sends him with his new formed worlds around 

A path where aeons are its years. 

I marked 
The world of greatest interest to us, 
The earth, the third in distance from the sun. 
What time it had been cooling God doth know. 
In wildest tumult tost, your mountain storm 
An April shower, in which the sun appears. 
Would be to this, wherein the elements 
In wild confusion fought for mastery. 
Truly, the waves leaped high into the heavens; 
Below did swirl the sediment of rocks ; 
In lieu of winds, exi)Ioding gases tore; 
And vast electric currents burst their way. 
Then had the awful war perpetual been 
If left alone; the laws of God subdued 




I ill- iiioil.'tli'r I'lli'nS ('/ titHliilt'lUs lifi'iiSC. 
.hid (>ushi-d the Hoods into thr drf>tlis <•■//<•(/ s.'o.i. 
.hid many strciiiii.'! /•.>ii/r(/ down their ihi/^fiiifi sides. 



Book II THE DIVINE MAN 



41 



Tliciii. so the liphtcr air escaped and rose 
And licld the clouds of vapor liii^li above 
The turbid waters underneath, and made 
The lower firmament. The epoch i)assed 
Cannot be told, for time not yet was born. 
And Gou approved. That hand again removed, 
The light crept in the cavern's gloom; evening 
And morning made my vision's second day. 



The shadowless darkness came, with it returned 

My dream insjjired. The heavy metals first 

Sank down ; ami then the igneous rocks became 

A solid crust around the heart of fire ; 

On this was placed the sediment of lime. 

The monster backs of continents uprose, 

And pushed the Hoods into the depths called seas, 

And many streams poured down their dripping sides. 

The inner fires, impatient of restraint. 
Burst through their rocky prison walls, and heaved 
Them into slanting trends of lica[)s and piles, 



42 



THE DIVINE MAN Book II 



Mountains and hills, and ladled into them 
The precious metals and the useful ores. 

And now, the purpose of our talk begins, 
The mystery of life, a single cell 
Appears ; here Christ the life begins his work, 
Only begotten of the Father God, 
All else created was. He is the way, 
Beginning at this narrow point of life. 
Doth widen ever to the heavenly realms, 
Within whose lifted gates he entereth 
As man today. He is the truth, telling 
The Father's blessed meaning in it all ; 
And is the quickening life in every form, 
However crude in its environment. 
Into that esoteric potency 
The angels would desire to look. That cell, 
Rocked in the roughest cradle, but preserved, 
Is mother to another cell attached, 
And grows at last into a minute plant; 



Book II THE DIVINE MAN 



43 



Tender and colorless, it only lives 

Upon the tranquil l)ottoni of the seas ; 

And propagates hy simply l>reakin|::j off, 

The male imto the female j;ivin^ birth. 

I cannot stop to tell of its advance 

Through countless apes of development, 

To the earth-feeding roots, and blades and stems; 

To bodies, branches, leaves and colored flowers, 

And fruit-enclosing seed ; and forests high 

Their columned trunks upreared, for nature then 

Was prodigal, enrobing earth in green. 

-And as the work advanced God was well pleased. 

Again that hand withdrawn made day the third. 



Another night the vision likewise came. 
The lights of heaven appear : the sun is first 
To pierce the murky atmosphere, the inoon 
Follows, at last the stars ; and actual nights 
And days begin. How glorious these lights 
Set in the deep blue firmament appear 



44 



THE DIVINE MAN Book II 



Unto the new born earth, mantled in green. 
The prince of day kisses her fair younp: face, 
The silver moon as her companion walks 
Among the stars ; they minister with lic^ht : 
The seasons now take up their yearly rounds. 
And soon the moving, sentient forms appear ; 
The great warm sea is the prolific womb 
Of living things. At first the swaying plants 
Are fixed, gathering plenteous sustenance ; 
After long time they grow to greater needs, 
Requiring motion in and for themselves. 
Though at the first they do but slightly aid 
The impulse of the wave, they ever grow 
In strength and purpose, and now spurn its aid, 
And of themselves can move their jelly forms 
On oozy bottom or on slippery rock. 
Stomach and mouth they are, their every want 
Is appetite, therefore they need defense. 
The Life, intelligent to every cry, 
Protects them with calcareous shell, spiral 



Book II THE DIVINE MAN 45 

( )r hinged, two lobctl or three, with hues or smooth. 
Uit now the waves, heaved by volcanic fires, 
Submerge again the continents. It seemed 
\s if the earth to chaos would return, 
\nd God had lost control. As I have seen 
\ prince of Egypt in his chariot, 
With bit and rein govern the harnessed steeds, 
Or with the lash urge them to greater speed; 
So God above the cloud-capped waves, with laws 
(Governed the raging elements, drove back 
The seas. His wise designs were then revealed; 
Superimposed were other beds of rock. 
Making the earth less insecure, with mines 
Of carbon stored therein for future use. 
.So perfect this that even God approves. 
Darkness and light compassed the fourth day's view. 



Into the cave of vision came a gloom 
That framed a living picture wonderful, 



46 THE DIVINE MAN Book II 

Just in the middle of this period. 

The seas are filled with sprawling, wallowing, things ; 

Leviathans, and horrid dragon shapes 

With turbulence the murky waters stir ; 

Of water-breathing fish are multitudes ; 

And through the frightened air, on leathery wings 

Huge bellies drag behind long winding tails. 

Of lesser creatures the insatiate maw. 

Short legs they have, with dreadful claws are armed ; 

Their slender necks have flattened heads, all jaws; 

Great flying serpents with their glittering scales, 

Startle the earth. The hissing, snapping, strife, 

Clangorous flapping, screams, and bellowing 

Make hideous the days, horrid the nights. 

Great monsters crawling on the slimy earth 

Leave their long furrowed trails; with necks upstretched 

They browse upon the foliage of the trees; 

Insects, in size alone less terrible, 

Darken the air. 

"And hath the precious life 



Book II THE DIVINE MAN 47 

No better use.'" I .saitl. And then I saw 
They well accortleil with environment. 
Though terrible, they were a great advance 
Above the low and flabby life before. 
The building temple i.s not beautiful. 
Supreme Intelligence progressive works, 
As a wise masterbuilder laycth stone 
To stone, anil wood to wood, as there is need. 
And yet necessity createth not. 
The need is but our cry to God. And He 
Above archangel aspiration is ; 
Ami is beneath the faintest cry of need. 

The working of His law in postulates 
Seems hard and stern at times, in ultimates 
It always is beneficent and wise. 
For now behold the wisdom infinite ; 
The points most used, grown callous and enlarged, 
Formed into legs and feet, more speed supply; 
Or arms, or fins, or wings, enlarge the fields 
Tn which to satisfy their appetites. 



48 THE DIVINE MAN Book II 

A need arose of more intelligence; 
About the central ganglion grew a head, 
Above the mouth, center of interest then. 
They now to seize their prey, or to escape 
Their foes, must windows have convenient. 
The light produced a dim sensation first, 
That sensibility increased, until 
The eye of mechanism wonderful 
Appeared, wisely designed in every part, 
Full of expression and so beautiful ; 
Mark, in its turning how adaptable. 
Protected by the lubricated lids, 
Its opening self adjustible, lenses 
Focussed to give perspective true, casting 
Upon the brain pictures of light and shade, 
In colors manifold, of objects near, 
Or starry distance inconceivable ; 
How very like an attribute of God! 

Another sense is needed, and behold 
The wise supply. The atmospheric waves 



Book II THE DIVINE MAN 49 

Impinge upon this nervous matter; lo! 

The ear as funnel spread to catch tlic sounds, 

Or high, or low, or long, or short, or loud, 

Or soft, as hammer upon anvil heats. 

The tensile drum vibrating gives alarm. 

Or heeds the sweet and tender call of love, 

And shall the thoughts convey in human speech ; 

In future, tuned to sweetest harmon\ , 

It shall the soul with heaven-born iriusic thrill. 

Another sense will guide their appetite; 
Strong o<Iors penetrate projecting nerves ; 
And there the nose is set, a double guard 
And counselor, above the mouth ; sometime 
Twill catch the garden's perfumed breath ; sometime 
Orchard and field, fragrant with honey dew, 
For her shall lade the passing breeze. 

Again, 
The tuouth is armed with teeth to grasp and tear 
And grind; the surface lined with nerves of taste — 
Chief organ then, and now 'tis not the least, 



50 THE DIVINE MAN Book II 

For tempted by the many flavors, we, 

As once the heathen gods were feigned, do eat 

Divine ambrosia, drink the nectar sweets. 

Within these mouths are placed what shall become 
Organs of human speech, expressing mind. 
O wondrous attribute, almost divine! 
Most potent in the life's development ! 
These reptiles also have the jointed spine, 
The great strong axis of the bony frame. 

Like to the stone paved ways along the Nile, 
Where pass the silken argosies, armed navies, 
Low-laden fleets, so through this bony way 
Doth commerce pass of pleasure, strength, and gain. 

And further on, to give them swifter flight 
And free, the cumbrous tails, replaced with light 
And airy feathers, rudder the plumaged wings 
In graceful flight; and colored down doth hide 
The reptile ugliness. Their hissing screams 
Were changed to minor trills and warblings clear. 
The life made in creation sure advance. 



Book II THE DIVINE MAN 



5» 



The morning light came in of day the fifth. 



Once more, the supernatural night returns ; 
Cast on the canvass of my purt- white thought, 
A moving picture of the sunlit earth 
Appears. In valleys green, hy waters still. 
Great flocks and herds are grazing quietly ; 
Some in the shadow of the trees are laid 
To chew the cud ; some on the verdant hills 
Are seeking pastures new ; and following. 
Their offspring from the udder draw their life. 

And life unto the mammals had progressed, 
As you have said, "love of our own" came in. 
And parting life not left in sand or sea — 
Insensate wombs, — but by the mother borne. 
Part i^f herself became, as of the male. 
And so the "love of self" ascended to 
The offspring loved. 

My vision then. T knew 
Was of creation's last generic age ; 



52 



THE DIVINE MAN Book II 



The travail of great aeons is brought forth, 
The child of destiny, the human form, 
Highest expression of God's art in clay, 
A mortal image of immortal thought. 
He only stands erect, with head upraised 
Above the brute, and eye intelligent, 
With ever forward look to guide his steps 
In all his wide dominion of the earth. 
Or upward turning to explore the heavens. 
In ample brain reason doth hold her court; 
Into his earthly nature there was breathed 
The breath of lives, the attributes of soul. 
Of thought, of choice, of will, of memory. 
And he alone is worthy to receive 
The blessed Christ in fulness of his love 
Made manifest. God knew that it was good. 
And the returning light made day the sixth. 



My vision closes here ; the genesis 

Of earth is passed ; God rested from His work. 



Book II THE DIVINE MAN 



53 



Creation's types arc now complete and good. 
The seventh and last p;rcat day of days begins, 
The Agi: of Man. 

The growiiip^ stream of life 
Halh issued fri)m its trihutary wilds, 
Deepens and widens toward its affluence, 
The future of eternity. Adam. 
The rosy skin made hare, and mother Eve, 
The female from tlu- male derived, stepped from 
Creation's lower forms ; one step advanced 
She ever leads the way, though little raised 
Above the purely animal at first. 
The earth, a wild luxuriant garden then, 
Was given them to dress and keep ; Eden 
Of innocence, unknowing innocence 
It was, low paradise of ignorance. 
Here in the tjuiet hour of evening 
They met, as God. tla- moral sense, and heard 
His loving voice, which all now i)lainly hear, 
The conscience witnessing of righteousness. 



54 



THE DIVINE MAN Book II 



The tree of knowledge in this garden grew, 

Bearing the fruit of evil and of good ; 

Who tastes the good must from the evil guard. 

Nearby it grew the tree of life, not as 

Existence merely, but the blessed state 

Of happy and eternal consciousness. 

Easy it was for them to disobey, 

So near the reptile nature, tempting them ; 

And good is ever by the evil known, 

Through all the ages of the seventh day 

Now passing; we shall be as Gods, and learn 

To overcome. And knowledge, dangerous 

No more, will lead in the ascent of man 

To that immortal paradise, Eden 

Of love, where we shall ever dwell with God 

In conscious innocence ; for we shall know. 

And we shall overcome; the very fruit 

So tempting grew in lower Eden, now 

Shall grow upon the tree of knowledge, and 



Book II THE DIVINE MAN 



55 



Shall give us life the more abundantly." 

Here, Moses and Elijah sang that psalm 
Of praise to the Creator's power and grace. 

Praise ye the Lord. 

Praise ye the Lord from the heavens : 

Praise Him in the heights. 

Praise ye Ilim. all His angels: 
Praise ye Him. all His hosts. 

Praise ye Him, sun and moon : 
Praise Him, all ye stars of light. 

Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, 
And ye waters that be above the heavens. 

Let them praise the name of the Lord : 
For He commanded, and they were created. 



56 THE DIVINE MAN Book II 

He hath also estabhshed them for ever and ever : 
He hath made a decree which shall not pass. 

Praise the Lord from the earth, 
Ye dragons, and all deeps : 

Fire, and hail ; snow, and vapours ; 
Stormy wind fulfilling His word: 

Mountains, and all hills; 
Fruitful trees, and all cedars : 

Beasts, and all cattle; 
Creeping things, and flying fowl : 
Kings of the earth, and all people ; 
Princes, and all judges of the earth : 
Let them praise the name of the Lord. 



BOOK III 

ARGUMENT 

In the tliird lx)ok a description is given of some of the 
types or leaders among the earthly spirits, who in honor of the 
incarnate Son of Man, resuming their lleshly appearance, assemble 
to bring their tribute to the glory of his transfiguration. The 
progress in the early history of the world and in prophecy is 

given. 

Tell me, O Heavenly Muse, 

Of all the multitudes assembling now, 

To celebrate tlie ultimate of love 

Divine. More than the dew drops sparkling on 

The morning fields ; or leaves that strew the gloves 

In .\utumn; or the multitude of stars 

On a clear Winter night, were those that once 

Had lived on earth. Adam and Eve came first. 

With siiambling gait, for they had late been prone. 

Thtir few and simple thoughts were then expressed 

In imitative sounds for names of things — 

Gestures for verbs. O man. how far beneath 

The son of man in thy beginning life! 

God may have given them the breath of lives. 

The human soul at once, it matters not. 



58 THE DIVINE MAN Book III 

Or in a thousand years, — immortal now. 
Or how or when the individual soul 
Cometh into their offspring, God doth know ; 
Sometime the incarnation must begin. 

And peering through the mist-dimmed centuries, 
They caught a glimpse of this immortal day, 
When he, their seed, should bruise the reptile's head, 
But he should bruise the suffering Savior's heel. 
As when of old the adventurous mariner 
Is on the wide and trackless ocean lost, 
And heaven is black with threatening clouds, he sees 
The dangerous ocean by the lightning's glare, 
And dreads the coming of the stormy wind. 
If through the rifts his guiding star appears. 
He sets his prow toward the far distant port; 
So was that promise, in those ages dark, 
A star of hope. And now that promised seed 
Has come; new life begotten of our God, 
And virgin born, he will the reptile slay; 
And yet for us he shall be sorely bruised. 



Book III THE DIVINE MAN 59 

And now, mark liiin wlio follows nearest them; 
His arms are loaded with tlic fruits of earth; 
The first he was to till the virp;in soil, 
And hroupht of these an oflFerinc^ to God. 
Another comes, bearing a tender lamb; 
He was the first to tame and use the beast, 
And brings an offering more acceptable, 
As antitype of the pure lamb of God. 
Nor shall the flame from ofT the altar cease, 
Until the one and perfect sacrifice 
Is oflFered up. 

The fundamental law 
Of individuality is love 
Of self. Out of this rich and virgin soil, 
Neglected, spring the noxious weeds of sin, 
Of jealousies, indulgences, of greed. 
.Anrl violence. Therefore the jealous Cain 
His brother .\bel slew, though innocent — 
First victim of religious selfishness. 



6o THE DIVINE MAN Book III 

Type of the holy sacrifice of love, 
Soon to be made. Think it not strange that Cain 
Has also come, — the sinner hath most need ; 
On every wrinkled brow a cross is marked. 

Those other two you see, in long white robes, 
Moving with solemn, measured step, and slow, 
Their censers swinging incense to the heavens, 
Are righteous Seth, Enos his worthy son. 

They had been first to teach the praise of God, 
To name His name upon the race ; the first 
To recognize social religious instinct, 
The prime emotion of the growing life. 

And he, so large, leaning against yon rock. 
With muscles to the shoulders bared, his hand 
Gripping a brazen rod, is Tubal Cain, 
The first to leave the age of stone; why comes 
The artisan to celebrate the world's 
Advance? Of little speech, but mighty works, 
Beginning with the crater for his forge. 




iJ'/jv « •'»!■.» ill, .iiliMiii 1. 1 ii-.V/';,;/,- til,- w.nliis aJritiii,:' 



Book III THE DIVINE MAN 6l 

Anvil and hammer of the flinty rock, 
He shapes the metal into forms of use, 
That by necessities are muUiplicd, 
And by inventive skill makes progress swift. 
He sometimes, for misuse, forges tlie sword 
And spear and bossy shield, armed charir)t, 
And the destructive armament; but most 
Blesses the home. By him the tents of bark 
Or noisome caves have grown to palaces ; 
And plenty follows plow and reaping hook. 
Whoever blesses home, blesses the world. 
Home is the very fountain spring of love. 

The mountain lake takes to its bosom all 
Thi- many streams descending from tin hills, 
And sends them as a widening river down ; 
So doth the home gather the rills of love. 
And gives them to the current of the love 
That fills the ocean of eternity. 

Beside him stands his father, first to breathe 



62 THE DIVINE MAN Book III 

The passion of his soul in poetry. 
And Lamech ever holdeth by the hand 
Another son, Jubal, so beautiful, 
Father of such as play the harp and pipe, 

O Poesy and Music, early born, 
What do we owe to Thee ! Under the touch 
Of human love doth float the tender soul 
Of harmony ; the psalmist's raptured hand 
Doth sweep the strings, or tremblingly prolongs 
The dirge. Of Thee, the trumpets echoing blast, 
The deep-toned bell, the cymbal's brazen clash, 
The booming drum, soft dulcimer and flute, 
Sweet rural pipe, the organ that doth roll 
Deep thunder through the vaulted arches high, 
Also the timbrel for the joyous dance ; 
All is of God and therefore good. The breeze 
First taught the ear eolian melodies ; 
Music hath grown to interpret all the soul. 
And Poesy will bind the laurel wreath 



Book III THE DIVINE MAN 



63 



On \irt lie's brow, and lend to Faith her wings, 
And give to holy Love enraptured charm. 

There comes that Ancient and his noble Sons, 
The fathers of a better race of men, 
Who to the great divisions gave their names, 
They have a forward and a backward look. 
Noah, Shcm, Ham, and Japhet are their names. 
'Twas then earthquake convulsions shook the world; 
The fevered, raging, inwards heaved the sea 
Upon the sunken land again, and drenched 
The lower firmament, that poured in floods. 
Then was the earth to its beginnings cast, 
But for the saving ark, floating above 
.\ drowning world. How plain and beautiful 
The symbolism was of Christ, the ark ; 
The raven of despair no more returns. 
The white winged dove of peace the olive branch 
Brings in. the rainbow arch of hope appears. 

That host, more than half blind, that follows them, 
Out of the prehistoric ages comes. 



64 THE DIVINE MAN Book III 

As they who travel in the wilderness 
Often are in the umbrageous twilight lost, 
And wander here and there, or far away, 
Or follow their own footsteps round and round, 
And fall, it may be, near their longed-for home, 
And in the dimness of their vision see 
Awful creations of their fancies fright, 
The strange and the miraculous ; so these, 
When history was by tradition kept, 
Or by the ancient honored bard was sung. 
Listen ! as now he leads the mystic hosts. 
In dithyrambic chant, with sounding harp. 
In blindness he is feeling after God. 

Most ancient ones barken, 
And hear the voice of ages past; 

Of one who is not young; 

Who saw the beginning of the nations. 

When the line was stretched on Calnah; 
Upon the deep foundations; 



Book III THE DIVINE MAN 



65 



VV hen time was old before llie days of Sargon. 
Or the days of N'arani Sin ; 

And the dust of ages covered them, 
And buried them in ruin heaps. 

Then Ur-Ciiir. the mighty, hnih upon them; 
Above the temple walls of Naram Sin. 

His j)alaces Rur Sin resteired ; 

His name upon the stone is carved. 

And then Ktidur Naklumdi destroyed ; 
And hordes of Elamites broke in pieces. 

Here stood the towers of heaven. 
On which the wise tncn walked, 
Their heads among the stars. 

.An(i now the sons of the gods 

Took them wives of the fair daughters of men, 

And there were born unto them giants. 



•^ THE DIVINE MAN Book III 

Then Nimrod the mighty hunter 
Slew the fiery flying serpents, 
Slew the dragon in the marshes, 
And the wild beasts in the forests; 

Builded walls around the cities, 
In the kingdom of the river; 

Gathered the tribes and tongues together 
And formed them into kingdoms. 

As the waves upon the ocean 
Leap high in exultation, 
Then fall into the lowest depths, 
So rise and fall the nations. 

Their idol gods are broken. 

Where, O where is the God of Gods? 

O where is the Supreme One? 

No beast was ever yet so powerful, 
But there is one that is stronger. 



Book III THE DIVINE MAN 67 

TIk- water also quenches the fire, 
On the rocks arc the billows broken. 

Even the reign of the sun is divided, 
And the nitjhts and days ari' equal. 

He retires to his house in the South, 
And winter destroys his gardens. 

The clouds overcome his brightness. 
There is only Onk who is supreme. 

See you those ancient and venerable men, 
They follow close behind the mystic age, 
Like stars along the mists of the horizon, 
The three great wandering patriarchal kings, 
Chosen progenitors of Israel? 
To faithful .-Kbraham the promise was, 
"In thee shall all the nations of the earth 
Be blessed" ; to its fulfillment now he comes. 
On tlic same mountain, where the blessed Christ 
Made of himself an offering of love. 



68 THE DIVINE MAN Book III 

Isaac the son was oflFered by consent. 

Jacob a ladder saw, of slanting rays, 

At Bethel set against the heavens, bright way 

On which the heavenly spirits came and went, 

Image of Christ, the true and living \va\ , 

That bringeth heaven to earth, and earth to heaven. 

Behind these honored fathers are the tribes, 
Extending backward to the far extremes ; 
Among them is the wise Melchizedek, 
Priest of the heart, without insignia, 
Or robe or mitre, crowned of God alone ; 
Of the eternal he is Minister, 
In every age and land the soul's high priest, 
And in that sanctuary ministers 
With constant offering of precious love 
And incense dear to God of prayer and praise. 
And here the humble and the great alike 
Are honored by the presence of the Lord, 
In every heart that's pure the sacred fire 
Consumes the offering. 



Book III THK DIVINE MAN 69 

I k" is tlu- kiu^ 
Of rightcuiism;s.s. the kinjj of Salcm — peace, 
Which is the constant joy of iK'inp rip^ht. 

O Peace of God ! Thou hlcssed summer land ! 
Beyond the cloud and storm -aim] stress of hfe, 
Tiiy never setting sun of love creates 
Eternal noon; the day dew of thy grace 
Makes ever fresh the pleasant fields; and there 
The ravenous heast is in our nature tamed, 
And with the mammal lies in sweet content ; , 

The reptile sports with guileless innocence. 

Mclchizedek has come to crown the Christ, 
After his order, the jterpetual priest. 

Aaron, this priest of nature, followeth 
In dress of scarlet, blue, and gold : adorned 
With fringe of pomegranates, and golden hells. 
A breastplate set with precious stones he wears; 
This the inscription on his mitre's front, ^ 

"Holiness to the Lord." lie is the juiest. 
Ordained of form and ceremonial rites ; 



70 



THE DIVINE MAN Book III 



He has his place when right and true ; but false, 
He is a horrid and blasphemous lie. 

The living plant sends forth its leaves and flowers 
And fruits; lacking the life it is a dry, 
Unsightly, and decaying form ; and so, 
The visible must show the inward state. 

Behind him is a gowned processional 
From every nation under heaven come, 
To lay their mitres at the feet of Christ. 

Nor was their influence slight to bring the world 
Forward to this auspicious time, when man 
Shall have one sacrifice of perfect love, 
To be a world-wide witness to the truth. 

Rejoice ! Rejoice ! the singing propliets come ! 
Isaiah leads the glad procession on ; 
Beside him Virgil, bard of Mantua ; 
Unshamed the Elect beside the Pagan walks — 
And even the idolatrous ; for all the world 
Expects the perfect man to lead the race 



Book III THE DIVINE MAN 



71 



Out of the darkness into heaven's day. 

And tlnis they sinj:j, as they liad sung before, 
One as a l)ird awakened in tlie nij^lit, 
The other hails the coininjj of the dawn. 



A virgin shall conceive, and hear a son. 



The virgin enters into Saturn's reign. 



A heavenly branch shall grow from Jesse's roots. 



A generation now descends from heaven. 

For unto us a child is born, a son 
Is given ; he shall be called the Wonderful, 
The Counselor, the Great and Mighty God, 
The Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. 
And he on David's throne shall ever reien. 



72 



THE DIVINE MAN Book III 



Do thou but smile thy purest, sweetest smile, 

The boy is born the iron age to end ; 

At last the universal golden age 

To usher in ; the sun in heaven is throned. 

Say ye to them that have a fearful heart, 
Be strong, be not afraid, behold your God 
Will come to recompense, restore and save. 
His reign of peace shall never have an end. 

The golden months begin their yearl}- round ; 
No trace of guilt or thrall of sin remains. 
He leads the life the gods have given him. 
He knowcth the inhabitants of heaven. 
Is known of tlicm. He rules a world at peace. 

The wilderness and solitary place 
Shall blossom, fair as the full iDOSomed rose; 
Even with joy and singing shall rejoice. 
The beauty of the trees of Lebanon, 



Book III THE DIVINE MAN 



71 



The fruitfulncss of Carincl aiul of Sharon, 

The glory of our God is given them. 

The thirsty desert shall he tilled witii pools 

And running streams ; the swamps are pasture land. 



For thee, sweet boy, unforced, the earth shall pour 
Her presents forth, the iv\. foxglove, bean, 
Smiling acanthus, and Assyrian spice. 
Breeze waves shall run across the fields of wheat, 
And purple clusters on the brier shall grow. 
Hard oaks exude the sweetest honey dew. 

1e.^^it.if.i^^^ 

The lamb and wolf, the leopard and the kid 

Together in the grassy fields lie down, 

A child shall lead them with a cord of vines ; 

The calf and the young lion, and the ow 

And bear together feed ; the ravenous i;cast 

Is satisfied to cat the tender grass. 

Then with the asp the sucking child shall play, 

Even upon the Cockatrice's den. 



74 



THE DIVINE MAN Book III 



****** 

The goats shall carry their full udders home, 
Nor shall they fear huge lions in the way ; 
Nor ever in thy grassy cradle hides 
The poisonous snake, or plant of fatal juice. 

y 'I* 'i* ^ 'I* H* ^ 

Judah and Israel shall no more contend; 

United, they shall bind their enemies. 

The wind shall smite the length of Egypt's sea, 

Also the river with her seven mouths 

Is dry. In these a highway shall be made. 

To bring God's people to their promised land. 

jji :); ^ * * :); ^ 

Yet for a while, under this virtuous show. 
Some of the sin and guile of old remains; 
Such as shall prompt adventurous men in ships 
To tempt the ocean's flckle god too far, 
Or shut their cities in with massive walls, 
Or plow their fields. A second Typhys comes, 
A second Argo, heroes again contend, 
Again Achilles shall be sent to Troy. 



Book III THE DIVINE MAN 75 

And He among the nations shall be judge, 
Rebuking sin ; tlicn shall they beat their swords 
To plowshares, and their spears to pruning hooks ; 
Behold the nations shall learn war no more. 

Prepare a highway for the Lord our God, 
Exalt the valleys, and the hills make low. 
The crooked straight, and the rough places smooth. 
The glory of our God in him appears, 
He makes the blind to see, the deaf to hear, 
The dumb to sing, the lame to leap for joy. 

But afterward, in his maturer years, 
The ship shall quit the sea ; the ground produce 
Without the harrow, or the pruning hook. 
At len,i,^h the oxen from the yoke are freed ; 
The wool assumes rich color on the sheep. 

O Son of Jove, look on the sea ant: rarth 
Outspread beneath the azure dome of luaven. 
Behold how they rejoice in that bright age. 



^6 THE DIVINE MAN Book III 

Homer and Hesiod are there; they too, 
Sing of the glories of the golden age. 

And Job pours out the longing of his soul, 
*'0 that my words were written in a bock, 
Engraved with iron in the enduring rock ! 
I know ! I know that my Redeemer lives ! 
And He shall come and stand upon tlie earth, 
And when I shall awake from earthly sleep. 
After my body is destroyed by worms, 
God clothed in human flesh shall I behold." 

Old Ossian, wearing wreath of oak doth sing, 
"The storms are darkening in thy misty hand; 
Thou takest the sun in wrath, and hidest him 
In clouds ; afraid are the sons of little men. 
The showers descend. But when thou comest forth 
In mildness then the morning breeze is near 
Thy course ; the sun laughs in his fields of blue ; 
The grey stream winds along the pleasant vale ; 



Book III THE DIVINE MAN 



77 



The bashes shake their green heads in the wind ; 
The roc doth lightly toward the desert hound." 

But as the spirits throng the glowing path, 
We only catch the fragments of their songs, 
"Behold the days shall come, saith God the Lord, 
That I will raise me up a righteous branch 
Out of the root of David ; justice shall 
He execute ; his name shall be the Lord 
Our Righteousness." 

"Thus saith Jehcjvah, I 
Will plant a branch upon the mountain top, 
A goodly cedar with its spreading boughs 
In which the fowl of every land shall perch." 

"One shepherd shall be over all the sheep, 
Even like David ; they shall be no more 
A prey ; even the forests are secure." 

Then Michael the prince withstood our foes, 
Rescued his people from their enemies; 



78 THE DIVINE MAN Book III 

The Savior King on Zion shall appear." 

"But in the last days it shall come to pass 
Zion above all hills shall be exalted, 
And all the nations shall flow into her." 

"O daughter of Jerusalem, rejoice 
And shout, behold your king! Lowly ai;d just 
Comes unto thee upon an ass's colt !" 

What need we more, all time doth testify, 
From when the new-born world was wrapt in clouds, 
Until in heaven's glory it appears. 



BOOK IV 

e «t 

ARGUMENT 

In this fourth hook a further account is given of the asscmhly 
on tho mountain of transfiguration, descrihing tiie i)roccssion of 
the kings; the twelve legions of angels, their orders, and mean- 
ing, and whence they came ; also the arrival of the glorious 
Cheruhim ; lastly the sevenfold divisions of man's nature. In all 
of these the advancing orders of spiritual progression are shown. 

In that procession of the kings, all rule 

And all authority is coming on, 

From him who with brute force and courage brought 

The weaker to his will, unto the time 

Of (iod's anointed kings — ordained to rule. 

And in that purpling train are emperors, 

And governors and presidents and chiefs 

And patriarchs and judges, legislators, 

All they who led in the advancing life. 

Each bears his symbol of authority, 

Or staff or sceptre, wreath or crown, to grace 

The glorious triumph of the son of man. 

Night breezes in their phantom banners stir, 

Once they did hold the loyal subjects' hearts. 
(79) 



8o THE DIVINE MAN Book IV 

And had been followed even to wounds and death. 

Under that flag, with lion couchant, comes 
David, and all his princely retinue. 
He knows the crowning soon to be upon 
This mount, will make his line perpetual. 

And they who bear the emblazoned bird of Jove, 
Are Tribunes, Emperors, of mighty Rome. 

And those who walk beneath the golden crown. 
Are the wise rulers of the Golden Isles. 

Beneath the silver crescent moon, you see 
The proud and ancient line of Pharaohs. 

Flaunting the dragon in his crimson folds, 
Are the celestial rulers of Cathay. 

Bearing a blazing sun in azure field, 
Are half forgotten kings of Babylon. 

In that i^roccssion some were wise and good. 
And some were monsters drimk with human blood, 
Some rough and barbarous drank wine in skulls, 
And some were weak and cruel in their fear; 



Book IV THE DIVINE MAN 8l 

Hut ;ill arc coiniiijj; now to jj^ivc liim ru!i.'. 
Whose right it is to roign tin- iviiig of Kings. 

Beneath an ensign all of purest white 
Follow the many uncrowtud kings of earth. 
Their hetter kingdoms were the hearts of "len. 
Although they had not all essential truth, 
Tluy upward led in the progressive way, 
And were inspired thus far of God; Buddha, 
Confucius, Lycurgus, Socrates, 
And many luore. 

Others who never felt 
The hreath of fame, poor and unsung they were, 
Yet ever did the duty nearest them. 
I'nknown of men, well known they were to God. 
Their motives, clarified of selfish taint, 
Unstimulated by applause, were pure. 
Lovingly, patiently, giving their lives 
In humble spheres, they unremembered fell 
Into the common dust; brightest they shine 
Of all. 

High o'er the mount a banner floats 



82 THE DIVINE MAN Book IV 

A blood red cross in wide, pure argent field, 

Touching each vantage point with crimson light. 

O ignominious sign ! Ensanguined cross ! 

Within thy crimson halo, O how strange ! 

The ugly is more hideous, the fair 

Most beautiful ! The greatest love is told 

In greatest sacrifice for those we love. 

O Sorrow, blessed is thy ministry ! 

In travail we begin our mortal life, 

And with a wail we first begin to breathe ; 

We pass to the immortal life under 

The gloomy arches of the sepulchre; 

And all reward is joy in sacrifice. 

Has love indeed no other gate than this 

To enter heaven's kingdom? 

Now, O Muse, 
Point out the legions from the distant spheres, 
Not flying down from heaven's pearly gates. 
But from the regions of the starry fields 
They come. These lights have left their azure depths, 



Book IV THE DIVINE MAN 83 

And fill tlic earth with sparkhng radiance. 

These arc the twelve great legionary guards 

Ttie Father sends to guard his honored son. 

And they, in honor of the son of man, 

Human appearance also have assumed. 

.As hy one thought, in perfect unison, 

They hy the spirit ot the Living God 

Are moved, the blinding flashes fill the heavens. 

Tell me their ancient names and whence tlicv came. 

l*"ar to the west the bright Elrisciia see. 
The leader of the twelve celestial hosts 
That mark the glowing highway of the sun. 
His native seat is on that orb we see, 
Where ancient seers beheld two fishes swim 
The deep. One touch of his ethereal spear 
Loosens the grasp of winter on the earth. 

Yonder, behold .Almaac as he moves 
Before his glittering legions on the south. 
Scarce by his azure drapery concealed. 



84 THE DIVINE MAN Book IV 

He is the very symmetry of strength. 
Three stars, one blue, one yellow, and one red, 
Are in his towering helmet's front alight. 
They represent three suns, that in his realm 
Glow with prismatic colored light ; and here 
Distinguished by the colors are the days; 
The yellow dawns upon the setting blue. 
Red follows yellow, blue succeeds the red, 
Making each day of a peculiar hue. 
This constitutes the week. The varied tints, 
The seconds, minutes, and the hours, define. 
These lights and shades make life a color dream; 
The floating clouds are poems in their tints ; 
And every drop a brilliant rainbow holds ; 
With ever changing colors bloom the flowers. 
Here, in this region of supreme delight. 
The summons of the Lord Almaac found. 
His countenance so beautiful makes glad 
The smiling earth, and all the shining heavens. 




Rigi'l. Magnificciit 
Draped in his azure robes, his tnassiz'e form 
Tozvers into the heavens. Did he hut shout 
The startled earth would zcander in her course. 



Book IV THE DIVINE MAN 85 

Yonder is Sirius; his helmet shows 
The brightest star, as it is nearest us, 
Yet is so far it has no parallax : 
And light flies swiftly for a thousand days 
To reach our earth. His throne of light is here. 
He. like Jehovah, knows the secret heart. 
He scans the heavens and earth and lowest tlepths; 
And sly deceit, though in the darkness liid. 
Or clothed in angel guise, he soons detects. 

See Unuk, on the north he leads his hosts; 
Their blazing ranks are in the distance lost. 
He bears a single star upon his breast, 
Its solitary light shines farthest out. 
His legion came from where a single sun 
Has ample space for many other suns. 
Unuk, immense, would shade the earth entire. 
His giant stride would be from world to world. 

Before that dreadful center, Rigel shows ; 
With shining foot advanced he standeth armed. 



86 THE DIVINE MAN Book IV 



His scabbard with three stars hangs from a belt 
Of three. His realm, where giant forces work, 
Is where their winds would sweep away the earth 
As though it was a flying leaf, and floods 
Would overwhelm it as a little thing. 
Rivers are oceans ; islands, continents ; 
Oceans and continents illimitable. 
One of their suns would our horizon fill. 
Here the inhabitants have size and strength 
Proportionate. Rigel, magnificent! 
Draped in his azure robe, his massive form 
Towers into the heavens. Did he but shout, 
The startled earth would wander in her course. 
And at his awful rush, the hosts of men 
With armor and with arms, and chariots 
With horses, would in bloody ruin pile. 
One stroke of his archangel sword would cleave 
The earth, its mountains, and its depths of rocks. 

Further along the line the sv/ift Altair, 
Behold how graceful, yet how rapid moves. 



Book IV THE DIVINE MAN 8^ 

Two wings, upraised, extend above his head, 
Two winp his feet, and two each hand. I lis words 
Outrun the h'ghtning when the thunder follows, 
And \ct his presence overtakes them soon. 
How rapid move the swiftly circling worlds 
Within the province of the swift Altair; 
Ere you could say "a thou.sand miles," the space 
Is passed. Their suns hurst into day, and pass. 
All in the com|)ass of an earthly hour; 
Their years are little longer than our montlis. 
As you have seen the moon with silver sheen 
Glide through the flying clouds of wind\ March ; 
So the celestial bodies move across 
Their heavens; and all requires the quiclot haste. 
The blessed swift Altair doth execute 
Mercy, as well as justice ; warning gives, 
And promises fulfills ; and drops more swift 
Than meteor to do the will of God. 

There Veg.ael with loveliest graci adorned. 
Moves with the rhythm of perfect harmony. 



88 THE DIVINE MAN Book IV 



As doth his legion, or in unison, 

Or else responsive, or in sweet accord. 

He came from that celestial region where 

The ear is so attuned, so delicate, 

Even the music of the spheres is heard, 

The singing orb in the ascendant leads. 

Nor change of day or night or seasons there, 

But change of melody. And all the range 

Of passionate desire is musical ; 

And worship is exalted hymn of praise. 

O Vegael, thy golden sceptre wave, 
The fierce and cruel beast in us shall fawn, 
Even the raging tempest turn to calm. 

Look now, far to the south, Great Zubbenel 
Holdeth aloft the starry balances. 
Wherein the worlds are weighed in equity. 
Regarding not whichever way they turn. 
The stern archangel and his flaming hosts 
Unmoved and upright stand, with forward gaze ; 



Book IV THE DIVINE MAN 



89 



Tli\ never asked or needed mercy, hence 
Arc stern, inflexible ; for whence they came 
Unlcnipcrtd jnstict- reigns supreme; the swor^l 
When drawn is never sheathed, but ever flames 
A warning; only to the wicked are 
These angels dreadful ; to the righteous one 
Justice is mercy. Over this sinful world 
Is held aloft the flaming two-edged sword; 
Soon fair-faced mercy flying out of heaven. 
Will bow her head to the descending stroke. 
But in that province of obedience 
Justice alone is most divinely fair, 

Menkar, liie huge of bulk, amidst his hosts, 
Stands like a snow-capped peak above the range. 
Their ranks are not so dense, but scattered wide. 
His vast extent of kingdom is the scene 
Of many new created worlds. His power 
Is jjondcrous. 



Now to the left of these, 



90 



THE DIVINE MAN Book I'/ 



See happy Arided. Far in the depths 

Of space there is a region where the stars. 

To us, make the appearance of a cross, 

But to the old astronomers, a swan. 

As if it floated down the milky stream. 

In all that system is the greatest joy. 

Inspired of the divine philosophy. 

Their thought is all for other's happiness. 

This is the universal law of love. 

Only in giving all, we all receive. 

O blessed state! O happy spheres! where sin 

And selfishness are never found to mar 

The life, and therefore sorrow is unknown. 

O happy Arided, do thou but wave 

Thy golden wand, and every shadow flees. 

And now, behold of spirit kings the chief. 
Immortal Michael and Mishael, 
Greatest of the archangel hierarchy. 
The servants, yet commanders of the whole. 

For at the first (I ask not when that was, 



Book IV THE DIVINE MAN gi 



For one could know eternity as well, 

And aeons could not measure- time since passed, 

Millions of cycles is but young compared ; 

In the beginning, of tliemselvcs is meant — 

They arc no nearer to eternity.) 

Within an ample space, twin suns were made, 

With double worlds revolving in their light. 

These were the luiclei around which turned 

Many twin suns and their attendant spheres. 

Nor need this center have sufficient size 

To hold by gravity their weight combined 

In their appointed rounds, for all are kept 

By nice adjustment of momentum and 

Position of attraction ; so the whole 

Is governed by the parts, the parts by all, 

In perfect and eternal harmony. 

Right model of a true republic this. 

And now within this ancientest of realms 

Are evolution's grand accomplishments, 

The endless way of the Omnipotent. 



92 



THE DIVINE MAN Book IV 



For those who live within these glorious realms 
Obtain complete control over themselves, 
And over all the worlds on which they dwell, 
Also hold converse with their neighbor spheres. 

Behold ! The two archangels move as one, 
Bright gemini of heaven ! Their legions march 
In ranks of two and two ; and everything 
Is duplicate, their power is doubled thus, 
Their wisdom twice as great, their love increased 
By two, their peace is like two rivers joined. 
Their joy as if a bursting fountain from 
Another fountain rose. Now Michael 
And Mishael, with the united strength 
And glory God is pleased to give to them, 
Have come to lay them at the feet of him. 
The perfect Son of Man, the Son of God. 

The Cherubim! The Cherubim! Behold! 
See, in the northern heavens those wondrous lights! 
Thousands of wings ingleam the feathery glow, 



Book IV THE DIVINE MAN 



93 



The light grows to a dazzling radiance. 

High over all outspread enormous wings. 

And earth is fanned, as with the hreath of licaven. 

Four dazzling wheels, wheel within wheel, appear, 

And drcatlful in their height ; they are so placed, 

The awful chariot of (jod turns not : 

And as it goes they sometime touch tlie earth, 

Then bound and roll beneath the finiiament. 

Nearest the earth are borne the images 

Of the four orders of begotten life. 

Facing the north, the south, the east, the west; 

And these are hidden by the sheltering wings. 

Upon their heads they hear a jasper throne, 

Encanopied with rainbow firmament. 

Seated upon that throne, the form of man. 

Robed in supernal light, with jeweled crown. 

Would make the sun a darkened spot appear. 

And as the man directs the vision flies. 

So suddenly it moves, the tardy light 

Is left behind ; and dreadful thunderings 



94 



THE DIVINE MAN Book IV 



The blinding flashes follow, as the voice 
Of the eternal God. Now o'er the mount 
They stand with folded wings. In heaven and earth 
Silence ensues, to hear that Inunan voice 
Proceeding from the mighty Cherubim. 

"Welcome ! Welcome ! Welcome ! Ye of earth, 
And farthest come ! Worthy occasion calls, 
Where man will enter by a covenant 
Into the highest heaven of the immortals. 
To human thought the way is long and hard, 
And filled with deepest tragedy. Up from 
The lowest form of life, by birth and death, 
By the assertive power of the best, 
And guiding spirit of the life in Christ, 
The confines of the perfect life are reached. 
Even the entrance gate is low and hard, 
And he will by the greatest sacrifice 
Enter the highest realm, and leave the gate 
Ajar, that all at last may hither come, 



Book IV THE DIVINE MAN 



95 



To live witli liini in sweet accord of love 
And work. The waitini^ moments ages seem, 
Yet God, and earth have waited, O so long. 
Worthy ! the crown of everlasting life !** 

And then, to open vision could be seen 
That all the wings and wheels were full of eyes, 
Which can discern the inmost heart. O Muse, 
What mean the forms the Cherubim assume. 

"These eyes, are wisdom ; wheels, are certitude ; 
Wings, are celerity ; the rainbow, hope ; 
The throne, is universal sovereignty. 
And he that sits thereon, the Son of Man ; 
That all pervading light, God's spirit is ; 
And their unswerving going, is the law ; 
Thunder, the warning that He gives ; their wings 
Folded, His peace. 

O marvel not that man. 
Enthroned upon the highest Cherubim, 
With glory and with honor will be crowned, 



96 THE DIVINE MAN Book IV 

Only a little lower was he made, 

In him shall the Creator honored be. 

His sevenfold nature reaches from the dense, 

Upward to God, pure spirit, infinite, 

Eternal and Omnipotent ; these grades 

Are triune sevenths, the universal scale ; 

Like as the seven-branched candlestick of lights 

In all these natures witnessing they come. 

First, "Matter, simple or combined, includes 
Them all ; herein is birth, herein is death. 
The earthly bodies then important seemed, 
While in them man could apprehend no higher, 
But in effects; as in the moving leaves. 
And water waves, he knows the unseen breeze 
Is passing; whence it comes, or where it goes, 
He cannot tell ; so was the spirit known. 

Second, the grosser form is laid aside. 
He lives in the Ethereal Medium. 
Unbound by gravity, in subtile grace. 
It fills all matter and pervades all space; 



Book IV THE DIVINE MAN 97 



III it the swiftly Hying lig'^l '•'' wiiij^cd. 
And lightning leaps with an impatient hound ; 
In it is life, the I.ife, the glorit)ns wheel 
Involving wheel. Thus as the density 
Decreases, energy increases, even 
T" the Omnipotent. 

Third, more refined, 
Pervading matter and the ethereal 
Is what you know as Instinct, near to tiiought ; 
Intelligence it is in lower sphere. 

And fourth, pervading all below is where 
Reason doth sit upon his golden throne ; 
And Memory, and Judgment, Choice, and Will 
Are ministers. 

Fifth, comes the blissful .'^cat 
Of the emotions. Love is standing near 
The open door of heaven here, and through 
The inviting portals sees the sea of glass. 
And in its depths the glory of the throne. 
The trees of evergreen, of healing balm. 



98 THE DIVINE MAN Book IV 

And many kinds of fruits. 

And then the sixth, 
Is of refinement ahnost infinite ; 
So very subtile, ether seemeth gross ; 
And swiftly flying light, laggard and dull. 
In this pure medium, as monitor, 
The angel of your being, Conscience sits. 

O'er all, immortal and enthroned, is God 
Incarnate. How the eternal, undiminished, 
Imparts Himself to individuals 
Unnumbered, only Himself can know. 
But thus is man an image of his God 
And Father ; given personality, 
Though finite seems, has immortality. 
So constituted that the inner man 
Is manifested in the outer form. 
In any of these states we do not die, 
But cast the shell and live in higher realms — 
Kingdom of heaven, the home of light and life. 

Like as the butterfly, with breathing wings. 
Passing from flower to flower in the free air, 



Book IV THE DIVINE MAN 



99 



Has left the dull cocoon ; so he shall leave 
The outer shell, inter the winged life 
Of freedom and unfailing hliss. 

And now, 
Are congregateil on the mount all forms 
Of these, or will, where that one perfect man 
Will take the vow to fight the final duel 
To the death. Clad in the panoply of heaven. 
His girdle truth, hreastplate of righteousness. 
Sandals of peace, the full orbed shield of faith, 
And helmet of salvation, spirit sword. 
Two-edged, flaming ; he will strike oflF the mask 
Of grinning Fallacy, or Satan if 
You will ; drive his deceitful legions back — 
The cause of all man's disobedience 
And woe — into the bottomless abyss 
Of dark oblivion. 



BOOK V 

ARGUMENT 

"After six days," says the Gospel narrative. In this, the 
most important of creation's weeks, in which Jesus makes pre- 
paration for his exaltation, the disciples are abiding at Caper- 
naum. In their assemblings they make note of some of the 
important events of his life. Mary, the mother of Jesus, as the 
most competent witness, gives them some account of his early 
life. John relates what the Master told him of his temptation 
in the wilderness. Peter speaks of the calling of his disciples. 
The book ends with a preparation of the mind for a rational 
acceptance of the wonderful works of Christ in the sixth book. 

Jesus, six days before this day of days. 

Had with a strange emotion left the twelve, 

And they wondering watched him go until 

The Galilean hills hid him from view. 

Then had they gone into Capernaum, 

The home of Jesus, and their own, and there. 

This week of all creation's weeks, abode, 

Awaiting his return. And meeting oft:' 

What could they think or speak of, but of him. 

They chose this interval to write a plain 

And truthful history. For without use 

(100) 



Book V THE DIVINE MAN lOI 

Would be liis incarnation, tcachinj^, work, 
And sacrificial death, were they unknown. 
Or only by tradition handed down. 
Obscured by myth and fable fanciful. 
Matthew and John were chosen scribes. 

One day 
The blessed Mother Mary sal with them. 
For being his, they were to her as sons, 
No other knew so well his early life ; 
And then the natural is most delicate, 
And the apparent rose is quite as chaste 
As the drooping violet. Concordia. 
Beloved wife of Peter, sat with her. 

Mary was saying. "In the month Elul, 
I sat alone, till very late at night. 
Reading Isaiah's prophecy; the lines 
Strangely impressive seemed. The consciousness. 
As of a presence near, lifted mine eyes. 
There stood an angel, bending as if he 
Would read the passage too. He said, AH Hail! 



I02 



THE DIVINE MAN Book V 



Thou highly favored! God is with thee! Blessed 
Among women art thou !' And then noting 
My troubled look, he said, 'Mary, fear not, 

Lo, thou shalt bear a son, and call his name 
Jesus ; he shall be great, and shall be called 
Son of the Highest ; and the Lord shall give 
To him his father David's righteous throne; 
Over the house of Israel shall he reign, 
And of his kingdom there shall be no end.' 

I said to him, 'O how can these things be?' 
The angel said, 'Even the Holy Ghost, 
Even the power of the Most High God 
Shall overshadow thee, therefore the child 
Shall be the son of God.' The seraph gone. 
There came the blessed overshadowing, 
My life upspringing in supernal bliss.' 

John said, 'Thus far we have the items down.' 
Mary, with queenly modesty proceeds, 

"Caesar made a decree to tax the world. 
Joseph and I went up from Nazareth, 



Book V THE DIVINE MAN I03 

And wc must even po to Bethlehem. 

He was a noble prince of David's line — 
I rode, lie led the beast so patiently, 
Jostled aside upon the crowded way. 
Although a king in heart and iiis own right, 
He bore it all for me, and I to him 
Was queen. We tarried at Jerusalem 
Almost a day. I saw him give the priest 
A single turtle dove, brought from our home. 
O royal heart, thine offering should have been 
Ten thousand bullocks to the altar flames ! 
Ere wc arrived at Bethlehem 'twas night ; 
The inns were full, the stable cave must be 
Our lodging place ; before the crunching; beasts, 
Upon the provender, our humble bed. 
Being so tired we could have slept at last. 
Had not the babe of promise here been born. 
Good Joseph wrapped him in his swaddling clothes, 
And laid him by my side. We were aware 
Of peering faces, and of voices hushed. 



I04 THE DIVINE MAN Book V 

Soon their dim forms we saw kneeling around ; 

Bowing their weathered faces in their hands, 

They wept, and even prayed unto the babe, 

And praised the Lord. When they arose to go, 

Joseph inquired ; I heard one answer him, 

*As we were in the fields watching our flocks, 

An angel of the Lord came over us. 

The glory of the Lord shone round about, 

And we were sore afraid ; the angel said, 

"Fear not, I bring you tidings of great joy 

Unto all people; for unto you is born 

This day, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord, 

And t liis shall be a sign to you ; behold, 

In David's city ye shall find the babe, 

In swaddling clothes, and in a manger laid.'' 

And suddenly was with the angel all 

The multitude of the heavenly hosts, that sang, 

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth 

Peace, and good v;ill to men." And said to us 

That we should find the babe in Bethlehem.' 



Book V THE DIVINE MAN I05 

Then the rejoicings shepherds went their way. 
These things I lonp^ have treasured in my heart. 
Soon as we mij^^ht wi- left the stable cave, 
And yet wc dwch auliilc in r.cthlchcm. 

Joseph was keeping watch outside the door. 
I heard him say, 'A royal caravan 
Comes uj) tlic highway from Jerusalem, 
Bearing three ancient, wise, and kingly men. 
From the far distant cast they must have come. 
And by their hasting may have lost their way. 
Thev come this way ! I hope they mean no harm.' 

Outside, I heard the camel's mufBed Iread, 
Shuffle of feet, and hum of voices low. 
Three slaves, carrying precious things, came in ; 
Three venerable men were following; 
They came and bowed their faces to the iloor, 
Together rose, each in his golden cup 
Blew up the sacred fire, sprinkled thereon 
Powdered frankincense, pleasant smelling nivrrh ; 
Three times they waved their incense toward (he north, 



I06 THE DIVmE MAN Book V 

And toward the South three times, three toward the west, 
Three times they swung their censers to the east. 

And then, the eldest took a golden rod — 
Upon its top a little globe was winged, — 
And clasped it tightly in the infant's hand; 
Then kneeling all, they seemed to pray to him, 
And in an unknown tongue chanted a hymn. 
One, rising, held aloft a silver star, 
Pointed to it, then to the new-born babe; 
I thought I saw the infant almost smile. 
And then they gave him many precious gifts 
Of gold, of frankincense and myrrh ; then bowed, 
And with their faces turned to him, retired. 
Their costly gifts a special providence, 
For Joseph's frugal store was almost gone. 
And being warned of Herod's jealousy 
And wrath, we needs must into Egypt flee, 
Until his death ; when back to Nazareth 
We came and dwelt. And the child Jesus grew 
In stature and in wisdom day by day." 



Book V THE DIVINE MAN 



107 



Thomas, who had a questioning mind, then said, 
"Stories are told of childish miracles, 
How barren fields blossomed with starry (lowers, 
And unwinged animals would soar the heavens, 
The birds would trill their songs in human speech, 
The trees bent down their branches to his hand. 
At his command dull stones would move and speak, 
And bursting springs would bathe his childish feet. 
And cherub angels for his pleasure sang — 
The wonderful in telling loses not." 

The blessed Mother Mary answered thus, 
"Not so. he lived a natural human life. 
Much more than we, because a perfect life. 

The happy Christ-child never laughed or cried. 
We cry with pain, or to enforce our wants ; 
He needed but to smile, to open up 
The deepest fountain of parental love. 
Laughter is like the crackle of the thorns 
Beneath the pot. 

Jesus was great and good 



I08 THE DIVINE MAN Book V 

In smallest things, as well as in the large. 

God's estimate is on the doer, not 

The deed. Nothing he did unworthy seemed." 

Philip, who had the most of learning, sayeth, 
"The Scribes and Pharisees have asked, 'Whence hath 
This man his knowledge, never having learned ?' " 
Then she, "He knew, simply because he knew, 
As God doth know; newness of life he is, 
Of Him direct. 

He too was studious. 
From every source drew wisdom for his work. 
Pie read the works of nature as a book ; 
Would take a little pebble in his hand. 
And read to us its history, through fire. 
Tempest and flood; would take a little seed. 
And tell — but could not make us understand — 
What was the life, and how it grew in kind. 
He reasoned upward from the cause to fact; 
We from the fact attempt to find the cause. 

He knew the life in animals and man. 



Book V THE DIVINE MAN 



109 



How it creates, maintains, the livinjj^ forms. 
And well he knew derangement and disease, 
And therefore the most potent remedies." 

Then Philip, who had the most of learning, said, 
"Prescience we know is first and reason's base, 
And knowledge from its source direct is best — 
If understood; so their objection fails, 
.\ntl only shows him great. Knowing the laws 
Of nature, also kcepini; them, with no 
Inheritance of evil taint, he lives 
A pafhless life, and free from every ill; 
.\nd every thought, passion, and appetite 
Is pure and good. — not faint and colorless — 
For wisdom and heroic self-control 
Give strength and heavenly beauty to his life. 
And perfect love — he does not will to love, 
His soul is love, just as the sun is light — 
Is seen in every act." 

Concordia askedj 
*In any wise did he not disobey?" 



no THE DIVINE MAN Book V 

Mary replied, "We never gave command ; 
A wish, expressed or shown by us, was law 
As far as right. 

O, these were happy days. 
His life the sunshine of a pleasant day, 
No fret, or worry, as we mortals have — 
Short sighted ones — but peaceful trust in God." 

Then Matthew from the roll looked up, saying, 
"Good mother, may we have an incident 
For record that will show his character?"' 
And she, "J^sus was only twelve years old ; 
We left him at Jerusalem, and knew 
It not, until we camped at eventide. 
We neither ate nor slept in our wild search; 
In all the city throngs no trace we found. 
Three days of wild alarm, despair, we sought. 

At last we in the temple found the child, 
Sitting among the Doctors of the Law, 
Asking and answering questions of the law. 
The aged at his wisdom were amazed, 



Book V THE DIVINE MAN III 



And learning in llic scriptures. Seeing him, 
I cried, *0 son, why so hast dealt with us? 
Father and I have sought thee sorrowing.' 
He said, 'Why did ye seek for nic elsewhere? 
Ye should have known. I in m\ Father's house 
Would he.'" 

Philij) again, "Your question well 
Was answered. They who gather knowledge long 
And constantly will gather very much. 
The word of God is an unfathomed sea, 
And most of it is in the awful depths. 
And but a little on the surface waves ; 
What wonder that they wondered much, to find 
The youth had knowledge of its lowest depths. 
Loved Mother, tell us more of how he lived." 

Then she. the blessed mother of our Lord, 
"In his apparel he was neat and clean — 
No ornament; the equal pride was shunned 
Of gaudy dress, or roughly singular. 
The heavenly beauty of his face and form 



112 THE DIVINE MAN Book V 

Was at the pinnacle of nature's art, 

And no adornment further could receive. 

His auburn locks, of David's royal type, 

Were always kempt, and hung about his neck 

In beauteous charm of ivory-white and gold. 

He ate and slept with regularity, 

Labored for strength, as for the maintenance. 

Oft have I seen him look for hours into 
The heavens, speechless before its mysteries. 

These things I long have treasured in my heart, 
And yet the mystery is deepening still." 

John, the beloved, answered soothingly, 
"Although he teaches us from day to day, 
Only a little can we comprehend. 
Yet there will come a time, he said to us. 
When we shall know and understand his life. 
Until that time, we still will follow him." 

Here, Mary and Concordia withdrew 
Unto their humble homes. 

And now the twelve 




Oft liaic I seen him look for hours into 
The heavens. .c/'«v</i/.-.c.f before its mysteries. 



Book V THE DIVINE MAN 



113 



Of their own observation spake and wrote 
Upon the sacred rolls. 

"On Jordan's hanks," 
Andrew was sayinJ,^ "tliat eventful day, 
Five of us, Philip. Peter. James, and John, 
Disciples of the Baptist, stood with him. 
Jesus the -Christ, so pure and beautiful. 
Came to the ford ; and he strange contrast was 
To shaggy John with hair and heard uncut. 
And coat of camel's hair, with leather girt. 

The Ha])tist, knowing him the worthiest, 
\\ ould he baptised of him ; Jesus forbade. 
The .sacred rite performed by John, he saw 
The mystic spirit-dove of purest white 
liurst from the dazzling heavens, and descend 
Upon the Christ ; heard the commission given, 
'This is my well beloved son. in whom 
I am well pleased.' 

And with the dove. Jesus 
Was also gone. 'Why did he leave the earth 



114 



THE DIVINE MAN Book V 



So soon?' I asked. But later on, we learned, 

The spirit led him to the wilderness ; 

What there occurred he afterward made known — 

The very thought of it would make him pale — 

How in his soul utmost temptation wrought. 

Little there was to eat, he cared for less. 

So taken by his contemplation, led 

Without another thought or care, but how 

His mission to begin and carry on. 

Though afterward, a hunger gaunt and fierce 

And ravenous, like to the beasts that prowl 

The wilderness, pursued him cruelly. 

So to his fevered, anguished brain, the stones 

Upon the ground resembled loaves of bread. 

He took one up, then cunning sophistry, 

The reptile source of every evil deed, 

By the extreme of hunger reinforced, 

Tempted, 'And if thou be the Son of God 

Say to this stone, be bread; thy mission test; 

Starving, thy work shall end ere it begins. 



Book V THE DIVINE MAN 



115 



To perish with the means of sustenance 

In thine own liand is self destruction. You 

have fasted forty days, the end is near.' 

Then hy the wisdom and tlic strength of him, 
First perfect man, lie to the tempter said, 
'Bread feedcth not the real hfe of man. 
That is sustained hy union with the Lord.' 
He knew temptation seeks the weakest part, 
A point minute and Iiard to he discerned : 
The dangerous waters find the small crevasse. 
He saw that selfish use of higher power 
Would lift him from the realm of human life. 
Therefore as man his mission would have end. 
H others were to trust in God. then why 
Not he, even in dire extremity. 
And here he met and vanquished selfishness. 

Evils are not .so easy to defeat. 
Though often driven away, often return. 
And upward from the beastly nature swarm. 

Jesus for guidance knelt in silent prayer, 



Il6 THE DIVINE MAN Book V 



This thought came at the most deceptive time, 

'Now is the Passover, the temple courts 

Are thronged — from every nation under heaven. 

If I should stand upon its pinnacle 

Before them all, when every eye was fixed, 

And as the Son of God proclaimed should leap 

From thence, if by the angels wafted down 

Unhurt, would I not stand acknowledged then 

Of all ?' The perfect man, as other men 

Shall sometime be, the evil in the thought 

Discerned, and said, 'Presumption! Barren display! 

Can man presume that God will change his laws 

To suit each individual desire? 

Confusion worse confounded would ensue. 

God has eternity, before, and since, 

In which to answer every prayer is made, 

Why therefore need the supernatural ? 

Jesus again hath gained the victory. 

And yet temptation foiled, followeth still. 



book V THE DIVINE MAN 



117 



One typical temptation yet remains. 

Absorbed in meditation. Jesus sat, 
And in liis clear imagination saw. 
As prospect from a lofty mountain height. 
The kingdoms of tlie world ; the continents 
lie scans, with inland lakes, and winding streams, 
Their mountains purpled in the distant haze, 
Green hills where flocks and herds contented graze; 
He sees the dim horizon of the seas. 
And many islands with their wave-washed shores; 
He looks upon the city spires and roofs, 
And the thick-masted harbor's busy mart ; 
Out of the city gates the serried ranks 
Are marching forth, in glittering array, 
Clad in the showy panoply of war. 
Great moving fields they are of shining spears, 
And rushing throngs of gilded chariots. 
With shout, and clanging shield, and tnmipel blast, 
They go to meet the bloody battle shock. 



Il8 THE DIVINE MAN Book V 

All this he in a moment's time beheld. 

This thought suggested to his kingly heart, 
Was by an adversary, if you will, 
'If I should use the power is given me 
These warring nations to unite in one, 
By me princes should rule in judgment, and 
In equity; the nations then would beat 
Their swords to useful plowshares, and their spears 
To pruning hooks ; and war would be no more. 
And all the earth be conquered into peace. 

Now, only this will be required of you ; 
The cares of state, of wealth, and power, are great. 
Your time and interest must be entire.' 
In this, the Christ sees that the hollow peace 
Is but a treacherous shell, enclosing round 
The seething fires of passion, pride, and power. 
And makes the task only more difficult 
To lift the individual into 
His high estate. Only the warmth of love 
Can reach the units of the race, to melt 



Book V THE DIVINE MAN 



119 



And mould thcni into one, in likeness to 
The perfect man — conformity of love, 
Kingdom of heaven on earth. In every thing 
Divinest evolution works God's will. 

Jesus, using the written word again, 
Replied. 'Hence, Adversary, worship God, 
Him only shall thou serve.' And then came rest, 
And angel ministry." 

Silence followed 
The words of Andrew. Speechless they, to see 
The perfect wisdom of the Son of Man. 
Peter as ever was the first to speak, 
"We .saw him coming from the wilderness, 
The Haptisl cried, 'Behold the Lamb of God!' 
Four of us followed him. leaving our nets." 
And here their session ended for the day. 



Now, O Divinest (Jne, Sweet Muse, lead thou 
With steady flight, the high ascent of faith. 
We leave the carthlv mists of doubt and fear. 



I20 



THE DIVINE MAN Book V 



If we may reach a more exalted plane. 

Here drop thy wing, and let our timid feet 
Rest on this solid rock of truth awhile, 
On Evolution. 

Body, soul, and spirit, 
In sevenfold unity together rise, 
To God's ideal finally are brought; 
Finite intelligence to infinite 
Is joined, in this supreme accomplishment. 

Therefore the message by a messenger 
Was sent, also a perfect pattern given ; 
And Christ alone has perfect worthiness. 

Now, Virgin One, another upward flight, 
Even to here. Guard thou with fluttering wing 
The dizzy edge, whilst I this truth explore. 
Again the rock is Christ. None other had 
The highest wisdom, love, and power ; wisdom 
To know the truth though error should be e'er 
So plausible, to whom the wondrous la\As 
Of nature, secrets of the Lord, could be 



Book V THE DIVINE MAN 



121 



Safely made known, having wisdom and love 
To only use the power for good. Xow Christ, 
By the Jehovah I*"ather's knowledge given, 
Did work the works of God, or miracles 
If you prefer to call them so. Know ye 
That miracles to-day. t(j-niorrow may 
Be natural. 

Xow. Heavenly One, thy plumes 
Outspread, fly to the summit of this faith. 
Over this height we dare not look below, 
For awful are the depths below our ken. 
This rock is. We Shall Also Be As Gods. 
Can we not now perform things wonderful? 
As Jesus said, greater than he had done? 
Can we not talk across the ocean wide? 
With glass explore the outer depths of space? 
And even weigh antl measure distant worlds? 
And read the hidden secrets of the rocks, 
Great mausoleums of the earliest life? 
And may not life itself be understood? 
Are not diseases more and more controlled ? 
Science is learnincj what was known to Christ. 



122 THE DIVINE MAN Book V 

Believing soul, look up ! Behold the wide 
Horizon shows the hemisphere entire. 
Spurn with thy feet the sordid earth, and rise 
Into the freedom of the cloudless heaven. 
Thy wings shall soar at last the atmosphere 
Of perfect faith. Hearken, the voice of God ! 
The words are spoken also unto You^ 
"This is My Son, in whom I am well pleased; 
For Thou art worthy to receive honor. 
And might^ highest dominion; come thou up 
And reign with me, even forevermore. 
Amen/ Amen/'' 



BOOK VI 

ARGUMENT 

The disciples coniinuo their personal recollections of some 
of the most important events in the life of Jesus which had 
occurrttl up to this time. Only types of his many mighty works 
are given to show the power that will be in complete knowledge 
and wisdom. 

The spirit is a harp of golden strings, 
The angel strikes the symphonies of heaven, 
And earthly fingers touch the minor chords . 
Of sorrow and of sympathy. In Christ 
They all vibrate in perfect unison. 

The glowing sun rose o'er the eastern hills. 

And looked with sparkling joy across the lake 

Of Galilee. The twelve again had met 

At the many roomed house of John, beloved. 

Always impetuous, Peter first began, 

"Let us begin now with his ministry; 

Some of the most important points wc first 

Recount." Then John replied. "If everything 

That Jesus said or did were written down 

(12:^ 



124 



THE DIVINE MAN Book VI 



'Twould fill the world with books ; minutes to him 
Were treasure store of opportunity." 

Often we look upon the fiower, admire 

Its form and color, and inhale the sweet; 

The botanist doth analyze the same, 

And knows the name and purpose of the parts, 

Calyx, corolla, stamen, pistil, stem ; 

So the disciples took the known events 

And dwelt upon their varied incidents. 

Sincere Nathaniel was next to speak. 

"One healing most impressed my memory. 

That day we journeyed near my former home, 

Where lived Gemali, crippled from his birth. 

A sweeter character I never knew, 

So patient, thankful, kind ; often 'tis so, 

They who have least to enjoy, most thankful feel; 

Souls that are sorely tried, most patient are ; 

Hearts the most needy, have the most to give. 

He was beloved of all, we neighbor boys 

Would bring our treasured toys for his delight. 



Book VI THE DIVINE MAN 125 



His parents more in liis aftliction loved. 

Learning our going would l)e near their home, 

I gave them word. O. I can ne'er forget 

The yearning look upon (iemali's face. 

U()turned unto the Christ'.s; Iii.s parents, loo. 

Watched every move: the waiting seemed an age; 

.•\nd tears of sympathy ran dcnvn our cheeks. 

Jesus alone stood calm, as if his heart 

Felt not the mute appeal, though afterward, 

We knew he waited for their faith to grow. 

He slowly to the helpless man drew near, 

.\iu! took him hy the hand, and hade him rise. 

riu thrill of life Hies through those shrunken limbs 

And feet. He stands ! The parents hold him up. 

He knoweth not to walk. Will sudden joy 

Make him forget? Xot so! Gemali turns 

And kneeling, worships Christ in thankfulness." 

Then James, addressing John, his brother, said, 
"You know our sweetest cousin Zereda. 
How she was stricken with the leprosy. 



126 THE DIVINE MAN Book VI 

A loving mother she, of that high type 
That is of Solomon so highly praised. 
So fair, so kind, so true. 

So ardently 
She loved her little family; of all 
The world, why she was smitten, tried our faith. 
I went to see our cousin afterward. 
From her own lips the painful story heard. 
She noticed first a spot upon her hand 
That would not heal, with tendency to scale. 
The dread of leprosy haunted her thoughts, 
And as a sheeted spectre in her dreams 
Would not be laid. Even to know the worst 
And be resigned would be a rest to her. 
'Go to the priest, for he alone is judge,' 
They said to her. Then she her little ones 
Would see, and clinging Love would Hope embrace; 
But Fear, at last, dragged her unwilling steps 
Unto the temple gates; then Love, again, 



Book VI THE DIVINE MAN 127 



Called her; she started to return, and met 

The thought, am I a child of Israel, 

And disobey the law? For Moses knew 

Even my darlings might be smitten too. 

She straightway sought the priest, held out her hand, 

Intently, silently, looked into his face 

To read the earliest intelligence. 

He said, 'My daughter, it is leprosy.' 

Too stunned for tears, she turned at once to go. 

Thoughtful of home, she stayed her faltering steps, 

'Tell them where 1 have gone — my family,' 

She said, and drew her veil about her face. 

Passed out and down into the vale of tombs, 

And there abode. And when at evening time 

The ghostly shadows crept across the floor 

Would crouch against the wall, stony and cold 

As human sympathy. A living tomb ! 

Only the still, cold, dead can rest therein ! 

Hers is a living death ; breathings of joy 



128 THE DIVINE MAN Book VI 

Are passed, the ghastly form of life remains. 

O God! would there be sin to make an end? 

And she, exhausted with her sorrow, slept. 

O pitying heaven ! and dreamed she was at home, 

And saw her little children at their play. 

And heard their merry prattle in their play. 

And then, through cramp and chill, the vision changed. 

Yearning, she stood outside the door concealed, 

And heard her darling little one cry out, 

*I want my mamma. Where my mamma gone?' 

Awakened by the anguish in her heart — 

The light of morning in the cavern shone — 

She, staggering, passed into the waking joy 

Without. There is a sorrow that can make 

Joy seem a mockery. She sat beside 

The food and drink was left her in the night. 

*A man approaches on the narrow path !' 
For I had told the loving Christ of her, 
And he had sought her at the earliest dawn. 



Book VI THE DIVINE MAN 



139 



'Unclean! L'nck-aii ! i k- hcarctli noi. Unclean! 
Unclean! Unclean! lie stayetli not his steps." 
She covered up lur face until he pass. 
'Daughter,' — heaven luver heard a sweeter sound — 
'Can'st thou helieve?' Dead hope was raised to life 
And led with hastenins,' wini^ her faith to him. 

'Yea, Lord, thou art the Christ, the Son of God.' 
'Thy faith hath made thee whole." He took her hand 
And crently bade her rise. 

.And then she saw 
That swollen leprous hand, in his, _i;row smooth 
And soft and beautiful; and felt the thrill 
Of life pulse throuf^h lier veins; her bloodshot eyes 
Grew clear and bright ; her dry and parched lips • 
Flushed as the petals of the dew-washed rose. 

She would have hastened home, and mother love 
Would lend her wings ; but kneeling at his feet, 
She looked into that countenance divine. 
Her bosom heaved with higher, sweeter love. 
And be passed on ; she rose and hastened home. 



Ijo THE DIVINE MAN Book VI 



Joy springs from sorrow ; heaven is over hell ; 

Our sorrows are unwelcome blessings oft. 

We hasten not to port when winds are fair ; 

He through the stress would guide the shattered bark 

Into the haven of eternal peace." 

The doubting Thomas sayeth, "Why is faith 
Required? For without faith he healeth not." 
John, the beloved disciple, made reply, 
^'Saving belief seemeth a mystery. 
And yet no more than other natural law. 
The healer claims to hold the power of God, 
To be the Father's representative: 
Without belief in this we cannot ask ; 
But loving faith lays hold upon this claim, 
And makes a definite and strong appeal. 
Answer is sure, or God is not supreme, 
Or loveth not, or he is not the Christ." 

Bold Peter said, "When the tempestuous waves 
Were breaking o'er the ship — you know the time — 




■^5 



f i* 



Book VI THE DIVINE MAN 



131 



The demons of the hills hurled the wild storm 
Upon the maddened sea. Through the bared masts 
Shrieked the wild terrors of that awful ni;:jht. 
The rudder loosed, the useless oars were dropped, 
We hopelessly clung to the plunging ship. 
The weary Christ lay in the hold asleep. 
Fright and despair drove us at last to him, 
Crying, 'Lord, save us or we perish.' He 
Arose and calmly viewed the elements. 
To us he said, 'O ye of little faith. 
Why are ye fearful?' Then, to wind and cloud 
And water, 'Peace, be still.' There was a calm! 
Again we spread the sail, and dipped the oar 
In the still moonlit waters of the lake." 

Philip, with analytic mind, spake then, 
"Jesus the Christ honored a little faith. 
As doth the husbandman his tiny seed ; 
He plants and cultivates it carefully, 
Expecting growth and harvest plenteous. 



132 



THE DIVINE MAN Book VI 



Out in that desert place the multitude 

Hungered ; how little did we realize 

At first, how he couUl multiply the loaves 

And fish, to feed a hundred companies 

Of fifty men, and have twelve baskets full 

Remain. He with almighty power o'crleaps 

The sowing and the gathering, the toil 

Of threshing, grinding, and the baking; so, 

The watery birth, and growth, the net, the coals; 

Creates direct the satisfying food. 

How could the little tendrils of our faith 

Take hold of this, so foreign to God's way? 

But we began to pass them out, and faith. 

As did the loaves and fishes, grew with use. 

Judas, the financier, came forward then, 
And said, "This is all fine to talk about, 
But I, small thanks, who keep the treasure box, 
Know we must something more substantial have. 

Sometime when he into his kingdom comes. 



Book VI THE DIVINE MAN 



^33 



Some other and not I. will chosen be 

The Premier of the treasury ; l)ut know, 

To keep you all from hcgj^ary, I plan 

And save ; yet Jesus will not take reward 

Of any man. That nobleman, whose son 

Was sick, was ripe for any charge was asked ; 

And came himself beseeching Christ to come 

And heal his son. was lying at tlit* point 

Of death, and Jesus put him off with talk 

Of faith. Thus far 'twas right to hold him back 

For more reward, till he with frenzy plead, 

'O, Sir, do come, before my child shall die.' 

Now was the time for me to ask of him 

A contribution to our worthy cause; 

But Jesus spoiled my opportunity 

By saying, "Go thy way. thy son shall live.' 

So be has bread to spare, we hungry go." 



Simon Zelotes earnestly replied, 
"O shameless one ! The nobleman believed 



134 THE DIVINE MAN Book VI 



And all this house." Judas, unheedingly. 

Went on, "Remember that centurion, 

That gentile dog, kenneled in this our land 

Given to Abraham and to his seed, 

He for a dying servant cared so much? 

How came his soldier heart so merciful ? 

Ashamed to come, the Elders of the Jews, 

Subservient, he sent, beseeching him 

To hasten there before the servant died. 

Our Master never hurries, as you know. 

They urged the Roman's worthiness, 'He loves 

Our nation, built for us a synagogue.' 

Christ should have seen that he had wealth to spare. 

But he is so deliberate, we met 

Another company of friends, who said. 

Although their master had authority, 

He felt not worthy that our Lord should come 

Under his roof ; but speak the word alone. 

His servant would be healed, and so it was. 



H 



Book VI THE DIVINE MAN 



135 



Our trouble had been all for naught, our chance 
Was pone." 

And tlion impetuous Peter said, 
"Satan, wouldst thou exchange the gift of God 
For gold ? Charge an admission at the gates 
Of heaven? Know this, although all wealth is His, 
The standard of the realm is precious love. 
Commercial Man, our lord hath need of tliee; 
Yet I beseech of thee, sell not thy soul 
For greed of gain ; for in the coin of heaven 
The poorest may be rich ; the richest, poor. 
Did not the Master say, he had not found 
Such faith as this, no not in Israel ? 
Gentile and Jew alike receive of him. 
Better than gold he gives unto the poor. 
He heals the poor blind beggar, by the wall 
Standing all day with importuning hands. 
Imploring pity by those sightless eyes. 
Right in the midst of beauty, light, and joy, 
His life is shut in darkness absolute. 



1^6 THE DIVINE MAN Book VI 

Think of the joy that comes of sudden sight ! 
Would money now the treasure buy of him?" 

Now John, with a poetic temperam.ent, 
"The blessedness will not compare with that 
Light-burst of love, that shows the Father God 
In nature, revelation, and in grace. 
They have a blind, and creeping, wingless faith, 
Who ask alone for things of time and sense. 
And in the groveling and the earthly stay. 
Those others have the clear-eyed, bright-winged, faith 
That wafteth to the mysteries of God, 
In which alone is perfect happiness. 
Think you the poor, blind, deaf, demoniac — 
O pitiful! could aught be added more? 
Had not in reason greatest cause for thanks? 
Even the claim of faith was by his friends. 
After the cure I saw him lying limp. 
Some said, 'Alas ! 'tis better he is dead, 
for what was life to him? But he arose, 



Book VI THE DIVINE MAN 



^i7 



Seeing, and lieariiig, rational, though dazed, 
Restored lie was to this short earthly Hfe; 
How littK' in cmiiparison it was 
To that iniinortal reason given him. 

Ambitious conquerors lead through their streets 
The fallen foe in chains, with trophies from 
Their pillaged homes and shrines. 

The Son of Man, 
The iieir to David's throne, the Prince of Peace, 
The lion of the tribe of Judah comes, 
Joy a!id salvation to his people brings, 
And even love unto his enemies ; 
Gives blessings to the poor, sight to the blind, 
And hearing to the deaf, strength to the lame, 
.•\nd healing to the sick, life to the dead. 
How glorious his everlasting reign ! 
O ye majestic mountains bow your heads, 
O ancient hills fall down ; and valleys rise ; 
Prepare a way for his triumphant feet, 



138 THE DIVINE MAN Book VI 

The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords !" 

Then avaricious Judas, "King, indeed! 
They would proclaim him king, he would not so ; 
Rejects all offers, wealth, or power, or fame. 
And loves the weak, the poor, and the despised. 
Would Jesus king of beggars be, forsooth ? 

Then James the Less, "The proclamation hear, 
'Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to 
The waters, he that hath no money come; 
Yea, buy and eat ; come ye, buy wine and milk. 
Like as the snow and fruitful rain come down ; 
So shall the issue of My words go forth. 
Ye shall go out with joy, be led with peace; 
The mountains and the hills exult in song. 
The trees shall clap their hands, instead of thorns 
Shall come the fir, instead of briars shall come 
The myrtle tree. The name of God be praised ! 
These blessed signs shall never be cut off.' 
Mark you, the precious things of God are free ; 



Book VI THE DIVINE MAN 



139 



He hatli no need, uc nought with w hicli to pay. 
Canst thou huy anything of God, the air, 
The glorious sunshine, or the fruitful rain, 
A tree, a flower, even a blade of grass? 
All that you have and are belong to him. 
O poor and foolish man, think you to buy 
The gifts of God that in salvation lie ; 
The healing, and the love, the peace, the joy, 
Yea, heaven itself? These freely ofTcred us, 
Are often not received. 

Jesus proclaims, 
'Come unto me all ye that labor, and 
Are heavy laden, 1 will give you rest; 
And take my yoke upon you. learn of me; 
For I am meek, and of a lowly heart. 
And ye shall find rest unto your soul ; 
My yoke is easy and my burden light.' " 

Then spake the greater James, brother of John, 
"Ah, that recalls the miracle at Nain. 



140 THE DIVINE MAN Book VI 

As we were drawing near the city gate, 
A funeral cortege of the poor drew near, 
, One stricken woman following the bier, 
On which the body of her son was borne. 
Grateful are mingled tears of sympathy, 
Her grief a desert, lonely, desolate. 
Of late, but one young sturdy tree remained, 
To spread his shading branches over her, 
An only stay against the storms of life. 
And as the vine with all its branches pruned 
She clung the closer to that one support; 
And he was dead. Jesus, beside the way 
In silence bowed, awaited their approach. 
Moved by the sorrow of the mother heart. 
For he would draw the monster's venomed sting, 
And wrest the victory from the ruthless grave. 

He touched the bier, and they that bear it stood. 
He to the bent and weeping mother said. 
Even to her, he said, 'Weep not.' And she, 



Book VI THE DIVINE MAN 



141 



Tliougli faintly, said — for I was standinjc^ near — 
'Art thou the Christ?' He laid the face cloth from 
The dead man's face — A vacant tenement ! 
The window hUnds are closed, the doors are shut, 
The empty rooms are silent, cold, and bare, 
The occupant is gone, has moved away ; 
Though not so far hut Christ can call him back. 
He said, 'Young man, I say to thee, arise.' 
He that was dead arose, sat on the bier. 
Quickly to her, 'Mother, receive thy son.' 
With arms about her child, trembling with joy, 
They kneel in thankfulness before the Christ. 

Another time we never shall forget ; 
Jairus. ruler of the synagogue. 
Fell down upon his knees, beseeching him, 
'O Jesus, come unto my house ; my child. 
My only child is dying; come, O come, 
And she shall live." 

As Jesus went, some one 



142 



THE DIVINE MAN Book VI 



Amidst the throng his garment touched in faith, 

And he must stop to bid her go in peace. 

There came a message from the ruler's house, 

'Your child is dead, the Master trouble not.' 

And Jesus overhearing, said to him, 

'Fear not, only believe.' When we had come 

Into the house, all were bewailing her. 

Christ bade them cease. 'She sleeps,' he said ; they laughed 

In scorn ; too well they knew that she was dead. 

The mother turned the sheeted covering : 
We saw the lovely blossom of the home ; 
Her hair was still upon the pillow spread ; 
Except the pallor you would think she slept. 
Is dreaded death indeed so beautiful? 

As when the gardener lifteth the flower 
Out of the earth mould where it hath sprung up, 
Thinking to plant it in a sunnier spot; 
And if the bed whence it was taken seem 
So bare, would he return it to its place ? 



Book VI THE DIVINE MAN I43 

Not since the world hcpan has it been so ; 
But Jesus took the white, cold hand, 

'I say 
To thee, Maiden, arise.' And she sat up, 
And Jesus bade them give her food." 

And now, 
O Heavenly Muse, we cannot stop to tell 
Of everything the apostles wrote and said. 
The greatest, mightiest work Christ came to do 
On earth, until his kingdom comes, will be 
To save us from ourselves, to lift us from 
Our lower natures, give the deity 
In us complete control, "Kingdom of Heaven," 
He said. As he was. so, God-men to be, 
We shall abide in him, and he in God, 
And God abide in us. Thus only men 
We are. true, perfect men, as was designed 
To be the outcome of the single cell 
Of life. 



BOOK VII 

■Si ts 

ARGUMENT 

Sometime during the six days in which Jesus was secluded 
in the cave of Zidkijah (consecration) a session of the Sanhedrin 
was called to consider what should be done with Jesus. The 
execution of their decision, although it seemed to be successful 
in crushing him, proved to be in line with his purpose. 

The Jewish Sanhedrin, authority 

Supreme, in solemn conclave had convened; 

Around the great rotunda was reclined, 

Whose lofty dome on seven pillars stood. 

From a great brazen bowl, in apex high, 

The oil descended to the golden lamps. 

Sole light. No windows were there, and the door 

Had now been closed and barred. The Epistyle 

And frieze, the panels, and the columns shone 

With vines and pomegranates of beaten gold. 

Pictured mosaics in the floor were wrought, 

Of many scenes most pleasing to the race; 

Proud Pharaoh is by the sea o'erwhelmed, 

The ark is through the parting Jordan borne, 

(144) 



Book VII THE DIVINE MAN I45 



The walls of Jericho in ruins fall. 

On an exalti-d throne, of seven steps, 
Sat Annas, president. P.csidc him rose 
Two aiahaster pillars, hung about 
With {;oIden ornaments of rich design. 
His hands rested upon two hon's heads. 
Upon his riijht hand sat the .\bethdin. 
The Hakam. witli his roll, upon his left. 

.\ golden bell called them to stand in prayer. 
Some raised their hands, and uttered pious words, 
Some bowed their hends in deep humility ; 
Often our worship is a form, or worse, 
Hypocrisy ; men often are deceived, 
God never. 

Then, a silver bell began 
Their session, .'\nnas stood before the throne, 
"Hear \o\ Hear Ye! Elders of Israel, 
The .Abcthdin will tlu- indictment give." 
Caiaphas, the vice president, then read, 
"Most August Sanhedrin, our solemn charge. 



10 



146 THE DIVINE MAN Book VII 

By many witnesses confirmed, is this — 

Jesus, the Nasarcne, of peasants born, 
Declares himself to be the Sou of God, 
And yet, against the holy temple speaks. 
And says he could rebuild it in three days. 
He desectates the holy Sabbath day. 
'Also derides the Lord's anointed ones. 
Persuades the people to proclaim him king. 
And -with Beehebub's deceptive arts, 
He leads the people ivheresoe'er he mill. 
His guilt is falsehood, treason, blasphemy." 

Annas then said, "Arise and take the oath." 
The Hakam raised his hand, administered 
This oath, 

"As ye shall answer to the judge 
Of all, the verdict in this case shall be 
Accordant with the law and facts set forth. 

Further, what ye shall hear within these walls 
Shall never be made known to any man. 



Book VII THE DIVINE MAN 



147 



If \vc these pledges violate, then, we 
Will never ask for mercy on our sin." 

*Annas. with noble presence, stood the while, 
Clad in the flowing vesture of the priest. 
Beneath his mitre fell his whitened locks. 
Across his forehead the inscription read, 
"Holiness to xiiii: Lord." Upon his front 
Sparkled the jeweled breastplate of the tribes. 

I Ic said. "The door is barred, your oath is taken 
So all may speak with perfect liberty. 
Our law forbids that any be condemned 
Unheard ; Jesus was cited to appear. 
Needless to say. this self appointed king- 
Will not acknowledge your authority ; 
Only when brought by force will he be here. 
Meanwhile our people as the stubble dry 
Await the spark; the times arc perilous. 
And peace is strained — the boding lull before 
The awful storm, the dreadful interval 



* High priest through courtesy of Caiaphas. 



148 THE DIVINE MAN Book VII 

Before the torch awakes the sleeping flames. 
We fear the people, also for them fear, 
Therefore enjoin the strictest secrecy. 
Nearest the front, in the most honored seat, 
Sits Rabbi Issachar, both wise and good. 
His head is whitened for the reaper's hand. 
The wisdom of experience gives us care ; 
Ignorance hath opinions; learning, facts. 
Let him be first to speak." 

Then, Issachar 
Stood for awhile in the expectant hush, 
And in his saintly features were expressed 
The truly pious thoughts of many years. 
He said, 

"Elders of Israel, I speak 
Not to condemn, nor to acquit, but seek 
To know the truth. As Jesus is not here, 
Justice requireth candor in our words. 
First, to the proof he gives to justify 
His claim. He says, 'fulfills all prophecy.' 



Book VII THE DIVINE MAN 



149 



Searching the temple records, we have found 
He truly comes of David's royal line, 
Was lx)rn in Rethlehem. not Nazareth. 
These minor points of prophecy must be 
Fulfilled ; fail in the least, you fail in all. 
And yet the certain proof is in himself. 
In word and deed and in accomplishment. 
For many sons are born in Bethlehem, 
And many too arc in the royal line. 
Ho says with emphasis, 'The works I do 
They testify of me.' He means their power 
And wise beneficence, are attributes 
Of God, and arc not of Beelzebub; 
Therefore his father is Jehovah God. 

Xature is wonderful, has secrets great, 
If fully known would show the Infinite. 
The true Messiah shall be worthy found 
To wield this power that seems miraculous, 
And only given to the worthiest. 
If Jesus shows this power, I leave to you, 



150 



THE DIVINE MAN Book VII 



I argue not. 

I open out my heart; 
See, it is written over with the law, 
Even the margins with the Mishna filled. 
O take the pen of truth, engrave thereon 
The one word, Love, and that shall cover all. 
O God, ere I go hence grant me but this, 
The expectation of the world shall come 
To teach us perfect holiness in Thee. 

O Brethren ! Brethren ! judge not hastily, 
If this should be of man, it comes to naught. 
But if it be of God, no power in earth 
Or hell can hinder it; ye will be found 
Fighting against your God." 

His words have end, 
And there is quiet, as when evening 
Prolongs the closing of the ardent day. 

Then, Rabbi Simeon slowly rose, and stood 
Awhile in silent prayer. Narrow he was. 




Then, h^ahhi Simcim sIhzk-Iv msc. and stood 

Awhih' in silent prayer. \ arrow he 'was 

And angular, slim faced, xcith forehead peaked. 



I 



Book VII THE DIVINE MAN 



151 



And anp^ilar, slim faced, with forehead peaked. 

Mis solemn piety for public gaze. 

He prays upon the corners of the streets. 

The tithes of which he boasts are tribute paid 

For widow's robbery, are orphan's tears. 

Hypocrisy, the foulest fiend of hell, 

And haggardest, had stolen the robes of heaven. 

"Elders," he said, "and Scribes, and Pharisees," 
His words intoned with solemn drawl and cant, 
"The accusations brought against this man 
.Arc very serious. The Mishnah says 
Although the harvest should be overripe, 
And rain be threatening, thou shalt not reap, 
Gather, nor thresh, upon the Sabbath day. 
One holy morn I went into the fields. 
I saw the twelve disciples of this man 
Gather the heads of wheat and rub them out, 
Double infraction of the law was this. 

He neither fasts nor prays. In Simon's house 
He with unwashcn hands did sit at meat. 



15^ 



THE DIVINE MAN Book VII 



A scarlet woman of the town stole in 
And witli her tears began to wash his feet, 
And wipe tiiem with her hair ; and sobbing, kissed 
And kissed them shamelessly, and with perfume 
Anointed them. (This washing he prefers.) 
And he confessed to Simon afterward, 
That she a sinner was, and then blasphemed. 
In saying that he had forgiven her sins. 
These awful and condemning facts are true. 
And many more. What need we further speak ?" 

Then Joseph, the directly opposite, 
Arose ; a model of the wealthy man, 
Not arrogant, but kind and affable. 
He gave, expecting not return, and more 
Expressed his helpful sympathy in deeds. 
Than words ; his wealth a stewardship. He had 
No artful cunning, yet prudent and wise, 
His wealth increased. The silent man, aroused, 
In his directness is most eloquent. 
He said, "Moses excused necessity, 



Book VII THE DIVINE MAN 

And Jesus says the Sabbath is for man. 
Now the (Hsciplcs phickcd and ate the grains, 
By hunger pressed ; also, occasion gave 
Their Master to explain the Sabbath true, 
The day that is by our traditions robbed 
Of God's intent. 

( )in- brother's piety 
Is shocked because the sinful penitent 
With her uncleanness kissed those loving feet. 
Nay. nay. pollution has a deeper source. 
Even the heart : outward observances 
And washings cannot change a wrong desire. 
.\nd shall we. by the justice of the law, 
Strike Mercy down? Murder sweet Charity? 
In this hard world is there no place for tears? 
And in this house of God can one be found 
Who dares to lift his hand to heaven and say, 
'I have not sinned in thought or word or deed?' 

Impotent man. rave through thine hour of life, 
Imix)rtant to thyself; but know, that God 



•53 



jr^ THE DIVINE MAN Book VII 



Has purposes beyond thy reach to harm, 
His throne on mercy as on justice rests. 
Broken is he who falls upon that stone. 
And crushed to powder he on whom it falls." 

Then Rabbi Ephraim was called to speak. 
A Scribe he was, and Doctor of the Law, 
Was learning proud, stickler for precedent, 
Strained at a gnat, swallowed a camel down. 
He gesturing, said, 

"Law is immutable. 
Admits of no excuse, of mercy or 
Necessity. Is Jesus wise, then why 
Should he be caught in an emergency? 
Nay, nay, his claim is false or plainly shows 
A prearranged intent to violate 
The law ; slight choice there is in either case. 

Again, is charity to be displayed 
Alone at public feasts, her rosy cheeks 
Bedaubed with painted harlotry, and streaked 
With bawdry tears of public penitence? 



Book VII THE DIVINE MAN 155 

Whilst he with bitter epithet condemns 

Tlic virtuous Scribes and Pharisees, lie, so 

Unlike a prophet, loves to be at feasts. 

And dresses well; of water makes g^ood wine — 

An easy miracle, same jars were used. 

Directly I interrogated biin, 

Why he and his disciples did not fast. 

Listen to his reply — and he unwed — 

'Why should the people with the bridegroom fast?' 

Your own deductions make! This libertine 

More than a prophet claims to be. even 

The Son of God, and able to rebuild 

Our glorious temple in three days. And yet 

When we did plainly ask of him a sign, 

Would be a certain witness to his truth, 

Needless to say. he utterly refused. 

If such he is, why trudge the dusty roads, 

Poor and despised of men ? The prophet says. 

His name shall be called Wonderful, the Prince 

Of Peace, the Counselor, the Mighty God. 



156 THE DIVINE MAN Book VII 

Upon the throne of David he shall sit, 
And of his government shall be no end. 
Hear ye the gospel of this Nazarene, 
'Blessed the poor, and ye that hungry are.' 
'Blessed are ye if hated by all men.' 
'Woe to the rich, and those with plenty filled/ 
'Woe to the joyous and the popular.' 
Between Isaiah and this Jesus choose." 

Annas, the president, arose and said, 
"The officers are here to make report." 
And then to them, "Why brought ye not this man ?" 
Officers — "Never a man spake like this man." 
The Pharisees — "Are ye also deceived ? 
Have any of the rulers that ye know, 
Or any of the Pharisees believed ? 
But this people who knoweth not the law 
Accursed are." 

Nicodemus — "Doth our law 
Judge any man, before he has been heard ?" 
Voices — "Art thou also of Galilee? 



Book VII THE DIVINE MAN 157 

Search ye and look, for out of Galilee 
No prophet shall arise." 

.\nnas — 'Silence! 
And hear ye what the Ruler lias to say. 

Nicodcnuis — "Justice is dispassionate. 
Blindfold she holds aloft the halanced scales. 
Let us be calm, and of a reasoning mind ; 
Thus may all danger be averted best. 
Nothing convinces an unwilling mind. 

As Rabbi Ephraim says, God is indeed 
Unchangeable, as also arc his laws, 
And yet, the selfsame law may hurt or bless, 
According to our attitude ; such as 
The strict commandment of the Sabbath day. 
It may be made a time of holy calm, 
Sacred communion with the Lord our God, 
A blessed period of heaven on carLh ; 
Or may be fettered by the galling cords 
Of hard and overstrict observances ; 
For restful peace, may give perplexity. 



158 THE DIVINE MAN Book VII 

Now listen while I calmly say to you, 
He may be right, and all of us be wrong. 
Corruption grows with time, like mold and rust. 
As moss upon the temple stones would grow, 
So our traditions may in time have grown 
Upon the sacred text ; and we must guard 
The truth, as we protect the temple walls." 

Voices — "Shame ! Blasphemy ! Would you destroy 
The temple too?" 

Nicodemus — "New will 
I boldly speak. By your traditions ye 
Have made the law of God of none efifect, 
Killing the spirit ye do mar the form. 
Think ye the priests profane the Sabbath day 
Who laboring, offer sacrifices ? Think ye 
That David sinned, to eat the sacred bread ?" 
And if your beast be fallen in the pit, 
Will ye not help it out upon this day? 
Hear me ye shall, and kill me if ye must, 
But I will cringe no more ; be yours the shame. 



Book Vll THE DIVINE MAN 



159 



One charge, and only one, we will admit, 
That is, with sinners he associates. 
Yes, like the sun doth shine on all alike, 
Sleeps in the smiling dimples of the queen. 
Kisses the unwashed hcggar's grimy cheek ; 
So will the Christ give light and cheer to all. 
And a Messiah who refused to help 
The weak, and cheer the sad, and raise the low. 
Would have small mission in this world of ours. 

"\'e charge, 'Derides the Lord's anointed,' Nay, 
If there be hypocrites, of them he speaks 
As whited sepulchres, not the sincere. 
If wolves are hiding in the woolly fleece. 
Of them he warns — no cry if none arc hit. 
If such among us are, let them repent ; 
For faithful are the wounds a friend inflicts. 
Treacherous, the kisses of an enemy." 

Voices — "A Nazarene! A Nazarenel 
The mask is oflf, he is a Xazarene !" 



l6o THE DIVINE MAN Bocfk VII 

Annas — "Is our authority defied ? 
Outside, the Ruler will be prudent ; here, 
He has the utmost liberty to speak." 

Nicodemus — 'Proclaims himself a king.' 
And so he may, as king of Israel, 
(All who prevail with God, the meaning is.) 
So shall his throne be in Jerusalem, 
(Founded in peace.) How self opinioned, blind, 
To see, in this small, conquered province all 
The world ; our city, the metropolis 
Of God. He has created of one flesh 
All nations of the earth. And we indeed 
Have been honored custodians of His truth. 
He chose our obstinate, exclusive race 
To be His treasure chest ; and He will save 
It, if He can ; and He will surely break 
It, if He must. 

The gift of God is love ; 
The gift of love is self; so Jesus gives. 
Hlis heart and brain, his feet and hands, his time 



Book VII THE DIVINE MAN l6l 

And strength, to love's demands arc sanctified ; 

And unto love he would suhchu- the world. 

His kingdom is not hounded hy or shores 

Or lines; but in tlie human iKart and life 

Ik- ruleth by this evor potent love. 

And everywhere and oiK-nly he says 

His kingdom is of heaven, not of this world. 

And this high realm of righteousness and peace 

Includes all kingdoms and all kings, therefore, 

There is no place for jealousy and war. 

Where love becomes the universal law. 

H he consent — yc could not otherwise — 
That ye should take this life, this show of love 
Would be complete, and give him greatest scope 
To live in every life, in wisdom, love. 
And power divine. I had an audience 
With him at night, when he had time to talk. 
He emphasized. 'Ye must be born again 
Of water and of spirit into this, 
The highest epoch of humanity ; 



11 



l62 THE DIVINE MAN Book VII 

The last great kingdom of the Hfe ; he said, 
'Kingdom of heaven.' 

Go place your puny hand 
Upon the ocean, soothe its troubled waves ; 
Or grasp the Hghtning of the thunder, and 
Rebuke the hurricane; go bid the sun 
Sleep in his ocean bed, forgetful of 
The waking dawn ; expect thou not to stay 
The kingdom's sure increase." 

Voices — "Treason ! 
Treason ! He would proclaim this Jesus, king !" 

Caiaphas — "Noble Annas, bid them hear," 

Annas — "Is this a rabble or a court ? 
Have we not said there should be liberty?" 

Caiaphas — "Hear ! Most Reverend Patriarchs I 

The eagle soars and gazes on the sun. 
Nor sees the serpent crawling to its nest ; 
So, often are the good and great and wise 
Not practical. The learned Rabbi, whom 
We love and honor, hath ideals high ; 



Book VII THE DIVINE MAN 



163 



But in his artless nature sees not craft 

In others. Sec the cunning in this man 

Of Nazareth ; he violates the law. 

Then says, 'And am I not the lord of law? 

Who shall require- the king to give account?' 

Bankrupts his slender treasury to feed 

A thankless multitude; requireth faith 

Before, not after healing; worse than all, 

He leads the discontented multitude 

With the false hope that he will be their king. 

Caesar is king! Under the Roman yoke 

Our people gall and chafe, only await 

The opportunit) to cast it off. 

Then will the Romans come and take our place 

And nation from us. Wait ? Why should we wait, 

Only to see the spark cast in the flax? 

Nay, let us quickly stamp the danger out. 

Wisdom is of her children justified. 

I -say it is expedient that one 

Should die, rather than all the people perish. 



l64 THE DIVINE MAN Book VII 

I see the awful horrors of a siege, 
Famine so dreadful that the mother cats 
Her child ; and sweeping flames devour your homes. 
I see the temple's blackened walls thrown down, 
The sacred vestures from the priests torn off, 
In the mad fury of our enemies. 
Alas! Alas! I see your loving wives, 
Your weeping daughters, and your noble sons. 
Sold into wretched slavery, scattered, 
And peeled, and torn, a by-word, and a hiss. 
Your fathers, mothers, slain before your eyes. 
Are we advised to calmly wait? and why? 
Listen ! Only a high flown sentiment. 
The time is now, before the Roman bird 
Sweeps down upon us from his lofty perch." 
Caiaphas, overcome, resumed his seat; 
For he had seen a vision true ; also, 
Unknowingly, had uttered prophecy. 

A storm was raised, as when Euroclydon 



Book VII THE DIVINE MAN Uj- 



Sweeps over the unmncrnablc sea ; 

For all aroiui'I. t!ic great rotunda rang 

With tumult, wild and fierce, and clamorous. 

The Hakam rang the silver bell, both loud, 

And long — of no avail ; the golden bell 

They dare not disregard. As wiien the waves, 

After the storm, reluctantly subside 

So did their passion dro|) to sullenness. 

The vote was taken, alas! alas! alas! 
Three balls alone were white; their meaning, Life; 
And sixty-seven were black ; their meaning. Death. 

Ended this battle waged in heaven ! Twas fought, 
Not with .>;eraphic sword and spear and shield, 
Neither armed chariot and foaming steed, 
Nor yet thick arrow's dreadful canopy. 
Nor with high mountain upon mountain piled. 
Piercing the heavens, nor with archangel .shout, 
Nor loud artillery belcb.ing horrid flames. 
Nor giant angels hurling wooded hills. 



j56 the divine man Book VII 



Nor yet the Father Deity hurling 
The blinding, crashing, rolling thunderbolt 
Upon His enemies, driving their rout, 
With hideous ruin and combustion down 
Into the blackness of despair and death. 

Nay, all of this but feebly represents 
In figure, that unseen contention waged 
Of evil and of good, for mastery, 
Within the real heaven, the highest realm 
Of spirit life in man. Seeming defeat, 
Our God will turn to glorious victory. 



BOOK VIII 

ARGUMENT 

Jesus, having left his disciples at Capernaum, enters in to the 
cave Zidkijah, (one who consecrates) and there remains for 
a sacred week, in preparation for his coronation and glorifica- 
tion. 

The first Adam — man in his imperfect state — is vulner- 
able to temptation. The second Adam — man in his perfect state 
— is shown to be invulnerable. 

Jesus the life, only begotten son, 
The Deus laid aside, became a man, 
.■\ man as men are, only strong and pure, 
Like body, soul, and spirit, like desires. 
With pure emotions, thoughts, and purposes. 
And as a man was to the utmost proved ; 
So, touches us in perfect sympathy, 
The grasp of love by which to lift us up. 
Into the highest realm of earthly life. 

While yet this world was but in God's intent, 
He purposed this, and vivified the cell. 
The germ and potency of every life. 
•Mthoiugh uncounted ages shall have wrought, 
.\nd earthly forms have birth, and growth, and death — 
Utmost duration is alike to God, 



l68 THE DIVINE MAN Book VIII 

He keeps no time, eternity is His — 
At last the Christ begins immortal life, 
Developed into perfect worthiness. 
For this he enters to Zidkijah's cave, 
Before the entrance parts the curtained vines, 
And steps into the lonesome silence dim. 
Is in the Mountain's sheltering bosom held. 

His earthly life has passed through every stage, 
Ties of affection have their strongest hold, 
And human interest is at its height ; 
His consecration now can be complete ; 
With understanding he can choose the way. 
A week for such a work seems all too brief ; 
And yet he is so very, very tired 
On the hard floor he first reclines in sleep. 
Weary, so weary, not of toil alone, 
But more of blindness and of bigotry, 
Ingratitude and sordid selfishness, 
Even of those who knew and loved him most. 




Is il the Iri'iithliiifi haul of / 't r hcrscli 
rUiit hnlds the hitter chdl'ue to his lifsf 



Book VIII THE DIVINE MAN 169 

Spirit, reveal tlic awful mystery 
Of what was felt aii<l wilkd and thought and done 
Within Zidkijah's secret cave ; even 
The perfect consecration of the Christ 
Unto a cruel and a shameful death. 

Jesus awakened from his sleep, refreshed, 
Sat on a stone, his face bowed in his hands : 
One half-breathed word sobs from iiis anguislied heart — 
"Mother" — of human speech the tcndercst : 
As when the stricken, mournful harp gives forth 
One louder note of wail, or sighin.y; wind 
Breaks with a cry upon the haunted night. 
Is it the trembling hand of Love herself 
That holds the bitter chalice to his lips? 
No enemy could give anguish like this, 
No other love exquisite pain like this. 
Hear his half uttered words, saddest of time, 
"I love thee! O. I love thee! Mothir dc:ir! 
Thy fainting feet press to the hill of death; 



170 



THE DIVINE MAN Book VIII 



Between the mocking earth and frowning heaven 
Thine angel-promised son is hung. I see 
Thine arms, on which the crimson drops have fallen, 
Embrace the awful cross. Twas said, a sword 
Should "pierce thy soul" — forgotten in the joy 
Of honor promised him. And I must hold 
That sword ; aye willingly must make the choice, 
Nay joyfully. I have a right to love 
As other men. Father in heaven, is not 
My life enough, and she be spared the grief? 
Could she not come to Joseph and to Thee ? 
Would not the cup be full without her tears? 
Was not her heart more tender to our pain 
Than to her own? No sacrifice too great? 
Her tender touch an angel ministry? 

And why should heaven require the offering? 
O thou, whose tender heart with pity bleeds, 
Is there no pity found for thee? 

And then^ 
As if to smother out and crush his thought, 



Book VIII THE DIVINE MAN 171 

The fondest memories of his early home 
Crowded upon his soul, the dearest spot 
Outside of heaven — thouc^li often said, inside 
Is nearer truth — Love's sacred treasury. 
He sees the picture soft and 1)eautiful 
Behind the mellow, purple, haze of time; 
The once familiar rooms, and bush, and tree, 
The garden path, the outlook on the hills, 
And the dear presence of his loving friends. 
Again as on a Sabbath afternoon. 
Upon the floor, besi«le his mother's knee, 
He looks into her sainted face, and hears 
Her read the sacred scriptures from the roll ; 
And hears her speak with rapturous jo}-. of what 
The angel said to her ; the joy of it 
Has borne her up through all the wailing years. 
The force of love divine is lost because 
W'c have denied to Jesus all the stren;;;th 
Of human love; to know the sacrifice. 
Think of vour own loved home and familv. 



172 



THE DIVINE MAN Book VIII 



The cave-imprisoned light began to fade ; 
Jesus must rest, and yet the day not pass 
Without the sure and certain victory. 
This admonition pressed into his mind, 
Distinctly as if uttered audibly, 
"Love's perfect offering must be entire." 
He said, 'T gladly make the sacrifice." 

Another dawn crept on the double gloom. 
Temptation in the angel guise of Love 
Again presents itself, as Jesus was 
Reclining on the cavern's barren floor. 

In dearest memory he sees the home 
At Bethany ; that Mary was as pure 
As she of Nazareth. Here loving smiles 
Of welcome ever greeted his return. 
Now, as he turned his face unto the wall, 
His finger touched the coat without a seam ; 
Mary had woven it. The snowy threads 
Were like the purest fibers of her heart. 



Book VIII THE DIVINE MAN 



^73 



A queen, in (luccnlincss, artlessly sweet, 
And she bad chosen the better part, to be 
A golden vessel at the fount of love. 

Is love unworthy in the worthiest? 
Sacred attraction of affinity. 
Is universal, transcendental too. 
•And love is to be loved, is in degrees; 
Jesus loved Mary, Martha, Lazarus. 
And their secluded home was his retreat; 
When at Jerusalem, the slanting sun 
Would always see him wend his way across 
The face of Olivet. He hears again 
The pleasant voices of his friends ; and they 
Must sutler by his ignominious death. 
Xo earthly pang can equal that we feel 
For those we love. Jesus was not above 
Temptation ; conquest of the world might be 
In the destruction of his enemies. 
Not by the way of sorrow and of shame, 
The painful, slow beginning of the course 



174 



THE DIVINE MAN Book VIII 



Of evolution in the highest life — 
Great sacrifice of love made doubly hard 
By love herself. Again that sentence pressed, 
"Love's perfect offering must be entire." 
"Father, Thy will not mine be done," he said ; 
And he had rest. 

With halting steps the day 
Returns. Leaning against the rocky wall, 
With bowing head, Jesus is thinking now 
Of those whom he had chosen from the world. 
No rest for him in dream or waking thought. 
His earthly friendships all were clamoring. 
His twelve disciples who had left their all 
And followed him, believed the saying, 'Tf 
Ye suffer, ye shall also reign with me." 
Dominion they expected and desired. 
Most often faith is holden by desire. 

The expectation and the prophecy 
Arose from every nation under heaven 
That he would be a Prince and reign on earth. 



Book VIII THE DIVINE MAN 17: 

And could he hurtle them from such a lieight? 
From such a glory cast their dazzled eyes 
Into the utter darkness of despair? 

Jesus is at the parting of the ways ; 
On one is honor and authority 
And home, and love, and righteous government. 
Jerusalem the golden shall be crowned, 
And greatly Israel rejoice in him. 

This way, at first, is level, smooth, and wide, 
Winding through flowery fields, embowering trees. 
No other man. if blessed with ample power, 
But would have chosen this to be the best, 
The speediest and most direct highway 
To the accomplishment of his designs. 
Jesus in wisdom sees it has no end. 

That other way is narrow, rough, and steep, 
And crosses dreary mountains, misty vales. 
On it arc aching wounds of piercing thorns, 
Injustice, shame, contempt, and loss of friends; 
Beside it looms the cross ; the sepulchre 



176 



THE DIVINE MAN Book VIII 



Is in its gloom. But, O, the joy to which 
It leads ! A world redeemed to the divine ! 
He said, "Father, Thy will not mine be done." 

A slender beam of morn escapes the vines 
And shows the wearing lines upon his face, 
Awaking him, as loving mother's kiss. 
Thereafter, Jesus stood with folded arms, 
And in the secret wisdom of the just 
Looked through the pages of his earthly life. 
As he, begotten of the Father God, 
The Life, had through the untold ages wrought, 
Beginning at the first corporeal cell, 
The various forms of living things and man ; 
So he himself was humbled to begin 
His human life at the primordial germ; 
And in the virgin womb these forms assumed, 
Until the breath of lives, a human soul 
Was given, and he was born a helpless babe. 

Again divinest evolution works 



Book VIII THE DIVINE MAN 177 

And at tlic barest instinct doth begin. 

Grows through the early years of infancy, 

Even to childhood's happy innocence. 

Jesus the bible allegory reads, 

"Eastward in Eden was a garden set," 

The happy orient of earthly life. 

And here, without a sin or care we spend 

The happy years ; and without labor eat 

Abundant fruit ; and for the plucking, grow 

The brightest flowers. Four rivers water it, 

Gihon, the stream of bounding joy, bursts forth;. 

Pison, exuberant, fillcth the banks ; 

Hiddekel runs as swiftly as the hours; 

Euphrates floweth ever clear and bright, 

Sweet paradise of no imputed wrong! 

But in the midst the tree of knowledge grows, 

Bearing two kinds of fruit; and one is sweet 

And good for food ; the other, fair to see, 

Is bitter ashes in the eater's mouth. 



12 



178 THE DIVINE MAN Book VIII 

Adam the ruddy, Eve the mother type — 
Naked because they lost the hairy coat — 
Began to eat of the forbidden fruit; 
They knew and did, they knew and yet did not ; 
And thus were driven forth into a world 
Of difficulties, thistles, thorns, and briers, 
Of sweaty toil, sorrow, and pain, and death. 
The angel conscience stands wuth flaming sword 
On the retreating hills of their return, 
For they have entered moral law ; and here 
Begins the laboring ascent of man. 

Jesus by actual experience 
Knows only good, of that alone partakes, 
And wise and strong, he is our champion, 
And from the safer Paradise expels 
The reptile tempter. 

Shame-faced Morn again 
Appears ; and with a deep and yearning love 
He knows the imperfections incident 
To man's development, the slow advance 



Book VIII THE DIVINE MAN 179 



Out of his low bcgimiinj^' in tlic beast. 
Whose hard and rough environment requires 
A savage crucUy. anger in man 
It hath become, the mother hag of crime 
And horrid murder, till ensanguined earth. 
Wet with a brother's blood, cries out to God. 

And following, he sees that lawful war 
Is no less wicked than the midnight stab. 
Earth has no hell equals the battle field. 
Strewn with the maimed, the dying and the dead. 
And murder by the law is no less crime. 
The bloody cloak of persecution oft, 
Inventive in its cruelty. Along 
This sanguinary path he folows up 
To zeal, which in his realm will be transformed 
To ardent love, the outcome of this force. 

Again he sees the lowest form of love ; 
In living nature 'tis the strongest law, 
Bv it a cell is to a cell attached, 



l8o THE DIVINE MAN Book VIII 



And every life is nurtured and produced. 
For love, the flower its tinted beauty spreads, 
With fragrant pollen woos the kindred bloom; 
For it the beasts ferociously contend, 
And man in endless turmoil stirs the world. 
The prize of beauty brings upon the race 
"Woes numberless and into hades sweeps 
The many souls of men, and leaves their limbs 
A prey to dogs and vultures." 

Jesus sees 
That up from this must grow the family 
And home, even the higher range of love 
Divine. 

Low down in beastly greediness 
He seeks the roots of avariciousness ; 
Up from these poisonous roots groweth desire. 
On which the sweetest blossom, hope, is set. 
It strews the path of life with cheer, and grows 
The fairest on the very brink of death. 



Book VIII THE DIVINE MAN ig, 



And from the bitter root of fear cloth spring 
The hrij^htest flower, and the divinest fruit 
In earth and heaven, love perfected. 

He sees 
The real war in heaven, contention waged 
Of good against the evil from beneath. 

Up from that wild untrodden wilderness, 
The beastly nature, hordes of evil come. 
For centuries the battle has been joined. 

Fabled, the gods would leave their blissful seats. 
In doubtful battle to contest the field 
With heroes ; heavenly armor scarce protects 
The form divine, and god with god contends : 
But here. Omnipotence makes victory sure : 
Not anything can thwart His will, and make 
Devil of angel, driven down to hell 
To form a hideous realm opposed to heaven. 

Evil is ever conquered to the good. 
Perfect the law, also unchangeable. 
Perfection altered must be for the worse ; 



l82 THE DIVINE MAN Book VIII 

And therefore justice is its certitude; 

Mercy is teaching of obedience, 

Not "vengeance satisfied," nor "wrath of God 

Appeased," neither "His loving favor bought." 

Law is impartial, sequence always good, 

If disobeyed the benefit is lost — 

Eternal loss, there may be other good. 

But never this. God threatens not, but warns, 

Is ever kind, the loss is of themselves. 

Justice and mercy, law and truth are one 

With him ; vengeance and wrath only express 

The dire extreme of consequence ; though God 

Must bear the great responsibility. 

And needs must make the right prevail at last, 

Man, a free moral agent, must bear his. 

Jesus looks back across the dim and long 
Forgotten ages, sees the race but young, 
And filled with wondering credulity, 
Creation's forms and forces worshipping, 



Book VIII THE DIVINE MAN 183 

In groping, wondering idolatry. 

And he, the perfect, God-begotten life, 

The highest nature of the race assumed 

To manifest the Father's attributes; 

That man. l)eholding, might become like him, — 

In admiration be transformed. .\nd more, 

His blessed .spirit he would give to all ; 

As in the well known process of the graft, 

The scion to the native root is joined; 

So, bound by faith his nature shall be tlieirs. 

Or as in likeness to its father grows 

The child, so they shall grow to be like Christ. 

And as the blessed Savior sees all this, 
Angel could not the yearning sympathy 
Express, crushing responsibility ! 
For he alone must lift the sordid world. 
Could Atlantean shoulders bear such weight ? 
The crimson blood pressed through his straining heart, 
And oozed from every bleeding pore. His soul 



l84 THE DIVINE MAN Book VIII 



Cries in an agony, "O, Father God, 
If I should fail !" though hardly doubt expressed. 
Jesus had resting in this other thought, 
The past and future the Almighty holds ; 
Onl)^ the narrow present can be mine. 

At last the final day of days appears. 
The genesis of human character. 
Of its importance Nature gives no sign, 
Earth unastonished speeds her trackless round. 
Or turning brings the accustomed night and day. 
Nor omen in the earth or sky betrays 
The hour is born of all historic time. 
One hard and bitter throe of pain is felt, 
"I am the life, I came unto my own, 
My own receive mc not, refuse to hear. 
The light, the joy, the love, they have refused. 
And heavenly love the world will not receive. 
And it is not my bitter enemies 
That wound me most, but mine indifferent friends. 



Book VIII THE DIVINE MAN 185 

And D, to sec nKii sulicr and my aid 

Reject. But ye would not! P.ut yc would not! 

And fjencrations still shall come and j^o, 

And men will struRj^de on with selfish aims, 

While heaven spreads all ahove them, unobserved. 

And must these sorrows longer follow them? 

God, to banish faith and hope would make 
Their lives unlivable. and certain death 
Most pitiful. If these their fra.ij[ile barks, 
Laden with all their [)recious things, go down 
In the mid ocean of eternity, 

And if the waters of oblivion 

Shall close, and leave no trace, how could the heart 
Endure bereavement? Life with fleeting joys 
Might be endured, how could eternal death?" 

.•\nd Jesus stood with outstretched hands and said, 
"Father, Thy righteous will, not mine be done." 

1 willingly have made thine offering : 
Yet, if I should but raise my finger, all 

Those Legions Twelve, out of the utmost heavens, 



lg6 THE DIVINE MAN Book VIII 



Would hurl this earth again to chaos dark. 

Though not compelled, I willingly do yield, 

And suffer Thy malignant foes to wreak 

Their dreadful cruelties ; for other's guilt 

Will suffer, innocent ; will placidly 

Allow the triumph of mine enemies ; 

And bear the disappointment of my friends; 

Will with unworded silence be condemned 

To death; see justice murdered in her seat; 

Will wear the crown of thorns ; be scourged and mocked ; 

And worn and faint carry the heavy cross. 

I feel the nails crush through the quivering flesh, 

And feel the jar tear on tlie gaping wounds, 

And O ! the agony of hanging on 

Those fevered wounds, six hours of awful pain, 

For death when most desired alone delays. 

Their mocking challenge I will then endure. 

And even then will pray, "Father forgive, 

They know not what they do." And vv'ith a cry 



Book VIII THE DIVINE MAN 187 

My heart shall break, and life is born of death. 

God could not make a terrible mistake. 
The final outcome of all life shall be 
Commensurate: if measured by the cost 
Eternity alone can measure it ; 
At last, my universal reign shall be 
In perfect light, and love, and peace, and power, 
And every knee shall bow, and tonc^ue confess." 

Now God the Father, glorified in him, 
Receives the consecration of the Christ, 
The genesis of perfect life is passed. 



BOOK IX 

ARGUMENT 

Jesus from his consecration in Zidkijah's cave returns to 
Capernaum. He instructs his disciples in the knowledge of the 
kingdom, both before and on their journey to the mountain of 
transfiguration. Arriving there in the evening, he takes Peter, 
James and John and ascends. 

Jesus emerges from the cloistered cave 
Into the free and open air of heaven, 
The mellow stillness of a Sabbath morn. 
Exalted mountains catch the ascending light. 
Green hills, and fertile vales, and checkered plains, 
Like his own spirit were in calm repose, 
After the week of wearing toil and strife. 
The plow and yoke beside the furrow rest ; 
Beneath the palms the caravan reclines; 
In all the land a hallowed quiet reigns, 



(188) 



Book IX THE DIVINE MAN 189 



Accordant with liis sjjirit's inward peace, 
In union witli liis father's righteous will ; 
And here alone is satisfied repose. 

Straightway he journeyed toward Capernaum ; 
And coming there he sought, and found the twelve 
Were seated in a grove beside the sea, 
And sitting down he taught them quietly. 

Although the great and pivotal event 
Of earthly history awaited him. 
He with the utmost calmness spake to them. 
Hurry implies a former negligence, 
Or fears to trust a future providence. 

He said to them. "Men say, lo here, lo there; 
'I say to you, the kingdom cometh not 
With observation. Not time or place is heaven 
Or hell ; but ye the one or other are. 
The Kingdom of Heaven is love ; and word and deed 
Are for another's good or haijpiness. 
And not denied to those that do you wrong. 
Wisdom divine is also given, or love 



190 



THE DIVINE MAN Book IX 



Might be a harm ; and it is blessed peace, 
The constant, sweet serenity of joy. 
I am this Kingdom, and I come to you 
To manifest this perfect, heavenly love. 

In every soul of man good seed is sown, 
And growth is everywhere the law of life. 
The faintest aspirations may arise 
To heaven; just as the tiny mustard seed 
Grows to a plant in which the birds may lodge ; 
So may you in this blesed state improve. 

And as a whole, this Kingdom shall increase 
Until the world redeemed to love divine 
Is heaven. 

The leaven hidden in the meal 
The better will express the inward change, 
Even the very nature of your being ; 
I said, three measures of the meal, to show 
That body, soul and spirit are made light 
And sweet throughout." 



Book IX THE DIVINE MAN 191 

The loving John here asked, 
*'Ho\v may \vc know?" Jesus rcpHcd, "Yc know 
Yc arc ahve by consciousness, and by 
Activities; Hkcwise, we know we love 
By the impressive consciousness, and l)y 
The loving words we speak, and deeds wc do. 

Two other parables I gave to show 
The value of tiic kingdom of heaven to you ; 
The merchant is commended for liis wise 
Resolve to sell all liiat he had and buy 
The precious pearl. Again, the woman felt 
Such interest seeking the coin was lost ; 
How sad from the eternal life to lose 
A single joy. Uncover every mine, 
Gather the precious jewels everywhere. 
Gain all the treasures of the sea and land, 
Call every house or foot of land thine own ; 
One moment of this heaven is worth them all. 
There is no outcome worthy of a life 
But heaven. The harvest of unrighteousness 



192 THE DIVINE MAN Book IX 

Is mildew, blast, and blight. The truths of God 
Are like good seed, the souls of men the soil 
In which the seeds are sown ; and all may have 
The sunshine of His love, and dews of grace 
Alike, the soils alone arc different. 

Some like the trodden wayside will receive 
And on the surface hold, a prey to all 
Light winged emotions. 

Some are stony ground. 
Of shallow natures, there the gospel truth 
Is happily received, and quickly starts, 
Yet under tribulation's scorching heat 
It withers soon. 

Evil as well as good 
Doth grow the rankest in the richest soils, 
That often waste their capabilities 
In growing thorns and briers and useless weeds, 
That choke and smother out the useful plants ; 
So cares and worldly interests destroy 
The growth of truth, no heavenly fruit will be. 



Book IX THE DIVINE MAN 



193 



Some seeds will fall on soil prepared and tjoo'l, 
Deepened by the heredity of time. 
The dry, hard paths of habit broken up, 
And by the plowshare of the spirit turned; 
And here the harvest will be bounteous, 
Althoug^h the husbandman has enemies 
That sow the tares of evil even here, 
And these he will allow to ^row until 
The final p^arnering;. 

In silent worship, 
Communion of desire and love they sat ; 
And Jesus prayed within his inmost soul, 
"Infinite Love, whose tcnderest regard 
Is for this world, the tiniest speck in all 
Thy boundless universe ; who slip^htest not 
The smallest part of smallest thine: thereon ; 
And even sent thy son as man, that he 
Might fully know man by experience ; 
So that the sympathy might be complete. 
Also that man might know Thy spirit self. 



IS 



194 



THE DIVINE MAN Book IX 



The sacrifice is not alone for time, 
Or for this world, eternity shall know 
Thy love is infinite, unmerited ; 
Is also given unto the unworthiest. 
In all Thy perfect will I am conformed. 
And though to manifest that love, I go 
Forward to sorrow and a cruel death, 
Thy will be done, I willingly obey." 

Arising, Jesus bade them follow him. 
With even step and calmly dignified, 
He went before them on the camel road 
That winds across the quiet Sabbath hills. 
Skirting the shores of deep blue Galilee. 
The sun vv^as overhead before they passed 
Bethsaida, and then Magdala by. 
For on the holy day their gates were closed; 

Jesus and his disciples journeyed on — 
For he was ruler of the Sabbath day — 
Until they came unto a pleasant grove. 
In which there was a well Isaac had digged ; 



Book IX THE DIVINE MAN 



195 



And here they rested for their noonday meal, 
Peter descending br.ought up thence a jar 
Filled with refreshing water, dripping, cool. 
They spread their frugal meal of bread and fish, 
And Jesus blessed, and brake, and gave to them; 
About the gospel Kingdom the discourse 
Renewed, saying, "I am the life, the pure, 
Essential life descended out of heaven, 
From God. He that receivcth quickening 
Of me shall be refreshed, his thirst allayed 
As by this water fresh and cool ; and I 
Will be in him a fountain springing up 
Unto eternal life. 

I am tile bread 
Of heaven, the nourishment of spirit life. 
By loving faith ye shall partake of me. 
If ye shall greatly hunger and shall thirst 
For righteousness, ye shall be filled, refreshed 
And satisfied ; your consciousness shall be 
A welling vein of everlasting joy, 
A satisfied content and sustenance. 



196 THE DIVINE MAN Book IX 

The kingdoms of the earth are one, as one 

Together rise in their development 

By slow and irresistible advance. 

All arc the modified originals 

Growing in adaptation for the last 

And highest realm, where all their meaning find. 

The animal or sentient stands above 

The vegetable ; here the vertebrae 

Is but the stiffer stalk or stem improved; 

The limbs are only branches moved at will. 

The lungs perform the office of the leaves, 

The alimentary organs, of the roots, 

The procreative, purpose of the bloom. 

The doors of all divisions open up. 
The gospel kingdom is the rational, 
The true and natural development 
Of all below ; not supernatural, 
Though from below incomprehensible. 
Above, is comprehension ; and beneath. 
Is faith. I from this higher sphere have come 



Book IX THE DIVINE MAN 197 



The great example, or the archetype, 

Kindred embodiment, that man may see 

The height to which this kingdom may extend.' 

And when the ever-blessed Prince of Life, 
Had spoken truly of the mind's and soul's 
Development ; instinct he would have shown 
As godlike reason's crude original ; 
And dim volition, that inspired the first 
Faint motion, as the basis of the will. 
To God's eternal purposes conformed, 
Able the worst temptation to resist. 
And soft impression, that the touch repeats, 
Would show to be the germ of memory. 
Shy confidence, that trusts another near. 
At last will grow into that saving faith 
That trusts the eternal future to his care; 
And winged hope first stirs the feeble will. 
The first attraction that the cells unite 
Will grow to love, that fills the highest heaven. 

All in this kingdom the fruition reach 



198 



THE DIVINE MAN Book IX 



Of every early and imperfect state 
Is incident to its development. 

"How difficult it is to speak to you 
Of heavenly things, who hardly understand 
Material images and parables. 
Ye truly think yourselves above the low 
Idolater, whose undeveloped mind 
Requires the tangible ; ye, too, must have 
The temple with its symbols and its rites, 
And ye must worship, pray in metaphor. 
Ye think of God and heaven as earthly forms ; 
And yet the time is coming, and shall be, 
When purest spirit shall be tangible, 
And love and truth shall be most literal." 

Philip, who had much learning, said to him, 
"Master, how can we fully comprehend, 
When language fails? You teach our lips to say 
'Our Father/ and you also speak of 'Him.'' 
The highest word 'Elohim' is the thought 



Book IX THE DIVINE MAN 



199 



Of our extended selves; and 'Heavf.n' means 
A better earth above the sun and stars ; 
'Angels' arc wini^ed embodiments of men." 

Jesus replied, "I censure not, the slate 
Of man's development will not permit. 
Even idolatry is natural. 
As the expression of the lowest mind. 
The lower forms of the material life 
Remain long after higher forms appear : 
So shall the grosser thoughts of life endure, 
Until the engrossing flesh is laid aside. 
Know ye, that God is spirit infinite, 
And by the spirit we must worship Him, 
Such worship only most acceptable." 
And then the Master plainly said to them, 
"This kingdom, as the treasure in the field 
For which a man sold all he had and bought, 
Is priceless; or is like the goodly pearl. 
Worth more than all the merchantman possessed. 
In it the value of the world is found ; 



200 THE DIVINE MAN Book IX 



For it the Father gave this earth a place, 

And swung it in the wide celestial fields ; 

And every moment of its history 

Finds an accented meaning in this realm ; 

From it all other values are derived. 

So shall the son of man, with all his saints, 

Come in the clouds of heaven, and shall receive 

The earth, his bride, so beauteously adorned 

That heaven shall ring with shout and glad acclaim. 

For you shall reign in me, and I in you, 

Not in a mystic sense, but actual, 

And with a real, true authority. 

For knowledge and invention shall proceed, 

Under the teaching of benevolence, 

Until the laws of nature understood. 

Even the human spirit known so well. 

Ye shall be able to control yourselves. 

And also govern your environment. 

So shall ye reign as kings and priests of God." 

After long silence Jesus prayed aloud. 




'•'«*wS3P'^**"''^SWs^ 




Oil the extreme rose Tabor's saered mount. 



Book IX THE DIVINE MAN 



201 



"Father, for iIkiii i sanctify myself, 

That they be also sanctified with truth. 

Neither pray I for these alone, I pray 

For all who throutjh their word believe in me, 

That they may all be one indeed, as Thou 

Father, art in me. and I in Thee, 
And that they also may be one in us ; 
To the intent that all the world believe 
That Thou hast sent me. and the j;lory given 
To them shall make them one. as we arc one. 
And I will be in them, and Thou in mc ; 

So that they all are perfected in us ; 
For Thou hast loved them, even as me. 
Father. I will that them Thou givest me 
Be with me where I am ; that they behold 
The glory Thou hast given me. Tliy love 

1 had ere the foundation of the world. 
O Righteous Father, glorify Thy son, 
That he may also glorify Thy name; 

As Thou hast given him power over all llesh, 



202 



THE DIVINE MAN Book IX 



That he should give eternal life to those 
Whom Thou hast given him ; and this is life 
Eternal, that they know Thee as the true 
And living God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou 
Hast sent. I glorify Thee on the earth; 
And now, O Father, glorify Thou me 
With Thine own self, the glory that I had 
Before the world was made. Hallowed Thy name ! 
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth. 
As in the heavens. Amen." 

And they awhile 
In thoughtful and respectful silence sat. 
Then Jesus, rising, said, ''The time draws near, 
Let us go hence." Coming into the way, 
He went as he would go to Nazareth. 
They followed him, though greatly questioning. 
What could it mean ? And on the Sabballi day ? 
Why go to Nazareth? Had he noi preached, 
And in their synagogue had made t'ne claim 
That ancient prophecy was now fulfilled ? 



Book IX THE DIVINE MAN 



203 



Had not familiar friends rejected him. 
And tried to cast liim from the precipice? 
Did they not know himself and family? 
Acquaintance made his glory blasphemy, 
Would lie go thither to destroy the town? 

Jesus turned south. Is it Jerusalem? 
Their hearts leaped at the thought! Will he be king? 
In David's city crowned? Something they knew 
Important was ahead of them. 

At last, 
Fertile Esdraelon's plain before them spread. 
On the extreme rose Tabor's sacred mount. 
High and apart ; its purple outline pierced 
The distant azure. What the Master saw, 
The vision uninspired may not behold. 
Above this mountain, honored most of earth, 
Spirits are coming from all tiine and space, 
From far celestial fields have sped their flight. 
And mighty L herubim and Seraphim. 
Those Legions Twelve of mighty guardian hosts, 



^04 THE DIVINE MAN Book IX 

Also the sevenfold spirits of the race, 
And all that to Love's coronation come. 

But the disciples saw only the mount. 
They wondering waited the developments. 
Nor would they be surprised if he should l)id 
The setting sun to stay his downward course. 
Or check the rising moon ; expectancy 
Was at its height. The look upon his face 
Was seen that day on leaving Jordan's ford, 
Baptized with water, now to be with fire. 
The Christ descended to the twilight plain. 
At last great Tabor's shadow they have reached. 
Upon the twelve there came a strange, wierd fear, 
They felt the unseen spirit's influence. 

Jesus chose only Peter, James, and John, 
To further go, but would assure the nine ; 
Awhile, remained to give the parting word. 
He never lacked for time, had aught to spare. 

"Abide ye here, we to the mountain top 



Book IX THE DIVINE MAN 



205 



Ascciul, and will return to you at luriru. 

The mission of our going hath concern 
Hereafter; the world cannot receive it now, 
In many centuries it may. Some one 
Unheralded and humljle may arise 
On whom the spirit shall he poured, to give 
True meaning to these hidden mysteries. 

These three can witness to the simple facts." 
Turning to Peter, Tames, and John, he said, 
"Follow thou me." 

Already night had cast 
Her darkening shadows on the mountain path 
Up which the Master and the three ascend. 
Silent and wondering they follow him. 
Watching at every turn his mystic form. 

The Master, by the spirit led, ascends 
The tortuous way : and neither hastens he. 
Nor hesitates, unmoved, with mind serene. 
He goeth to receive the crown of crowns, 
God-given to men. 



BOOK X 

ARGUMENT 

Jesus and the disciples, Peter, James, and John, having 
ascended the mountain, the eyes of the three were opened to see 
the glorious assemblage awaiting him ; they hear the universal 
encomium of the perfect man. After the placing of the Legion 
Guard, Moses and Elijah talk with him about his decease at 
Jerusalem ; then they all advance along the way that the reveren- 
tial spirits have opened for them to a central court formed of 
glorified spirits, where Jesus, as the perfect embodiment of the 
perfected life, is acknowledged and crowned of heaven. 

Spirit, the open vision give, to see 

The awful glories and the mysteries 

Are in the crowning of the Son of Man. 

Jesus, the Christ, stood on the mountain top ; 

The three were humbly kneeling at his feet ; 

They only saw the deep blue heaven of stars ; 

They felt a trembling awe, but knew not why. 

Jesus above them leaned, he touched their eyes. 

Glory supreme! Glory ineffable! 

The mountain and the heavens are all ablaze 

With forms of living h"ghl ! 
(200) 



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Behold! Behold the Man' 



Book X THE DIVINE MAN 207 



"The Christ! The Christ!" 
And all the Sons of God assembled there 
Shouted for joy, "Behold! Behold the man!" 
Earth in her singing orbit also joined 
In unison, and all the shining stars 
Together sang in blissful harmony, 
And the Cherubic voice amidst the throne 
Uttered the glory of the perfect man. 

"Behold the Life, completed and complete! 
He is the altogether lovely one ; 
Bright as the sun. fair as the full-faced moon, 
Perfect in feature and in form he stands. 
In his pure lips the breath of early morn, 
From his anointed locks fragrance exhales — 
Beauty's extreme. So full of grace and truth, 
Well pleasing unto God, angels admire, 
And saints adore. Complete in body, soul. 
And spirit, honored son of God Most High, 
Alpha, Omega, of the world's design. 



2o8 THE DIVINE MAN Book X 

He is the glory of creation's week. 

That life in the beginning was with God. 
Was God ; for him, by him, the world was made. 
For life is power, life is intelligence ; 
He is the outcome of that energy, 
Perfect in him. in others manifest. 
Now this conception is expressed of God 
In human flesh, to dwell with men. 

Know ye 
That wisdom is unknown to ignorance. 
Neither can death know any thing of life, 
Spirit of spirit only is discerned. 
Like unto like can only be declared ; 
So God, in man, must be made manifest; 
Men also shall become the Sons of God, 
Beholding the invisible; seeing, 
By spirit light, supernal radiance. 

The ardor of that blaze unbearable, 
Filling the heavens above the mountain top, 



i 



I 



Book X THE DIVINE MAN 209 

Reveals him in his native element. 

Reason is hijjhest intuition here, 

And prescience like to God's, who reasons not. 

But knows entire : therefore he cannot have 

False premises, neither conclusions warped 

By wrong desires, hut knows as he is known." 

And all the Sons of God assembled there 
Shouted for joy. "Behold! Behold the Man!" 
Earth also in her sinc^inj:: orbit joined 
In unison, and all the shining^ stars 
Together sang in blissful harmony, 
And the Cherubic voice amidst the throne 
Uttered the glory of the perfect Man, 
"Behold the Man ! Strong, stalwart son of God ! 
He conquers all disease, all sorrows flee, 
He overcometh every evil thing. 
Or fault or wrong that in man's nature works, 
And even Death and Hell he Ivnds in cliains. 
This perfect man is with all knowledge filled — 



14 



2IO THE DIVINE MAN Book X 



Forbidden once ; the secrets of the Lord 
Are his ; for he shall rule in righteousness, 
Entrusted with the awful power of God, 
Whose laws are written in his mind and heart. 
Not princely, but he is a prince indeed ; 
He with the Sovran ruler is conjoined 
Ruling in atoms and immensity." 

And all the Sons of God assembled there. 
Shouted aloud for joy, "Behold the Man 1" 
Earth in her singing- orbit also joined 
In unison, and all the shining stars 
Together sang in blissful harmony, 
And the Cherubic voice amidst the throne 
Uttered the glory of the perfect Man, 

"Behold the Man ! He paradise restores, 
Even sweet childhood's Eden innocence ; 
Rivers delightful running fresh and full 
Water the pleasant garden of the soul. 
And falls thereon refreshing dew of grace, 



Book X THE DIVINE MAN 21 1 

Warmed by the sunshine of the Father's love. 
On every tree groweth delightful fruit, 
The tree of knowledge most inviting bears. 
The tender dove nesteth among the branches ; 
The peaceful lamb grazeth among the lilies; 
The lion also feedeth on the grass ; 
The serpent and the child together play ; 
Nothing shall harm in all that holy place, 
There is no guile in all that loving nature. 
Behold the Man ! The infinite design, 
The perfect pattern of a finished race. 
Before the rock foundations of the earth 
Were laid, he was the offered innocence, 
He was the motive in creation's work." 

.\nd the admiring throng assembled there 
Ascribeth glory, majesty, and might. 

Now did the reverent multitude divide 
And leave before his feet a dazzling way 
Across the mount, and into starry space, 



212 THE DIVINE MAN Book X 

Like as the sun, looking between the clouds, 

Maketh to earth a slanting path of light. 

And in that throng were highest Cherubim, 

And Seraphim, and principalities, 

And powers, archangel ministers of God, 

Immortal legions from the provinces 

Of heaven, and many spirits of the earth. 

Out of these blazing walls as sparks from flames 
Came forth the leaders of the Legions Twelve, 
Advancing two and two, attention stand. 
With dreadful fear the solid mountain shakes. 

Elrischa means the blessedness of God, 
Almaac represents the beautiful. 
And brilliant Sirius is His watchfulness, 
Unuk declares unending amplitude, 
The glorious Rigel His magnificence. 
The swift Altair the execution shows, 
Sweet Vegael harmonious purposes, 
Great Zubbenel the justice of His laws, 
J The giant Menkar is immensity. 



Book X THE DIVINE MAN 



213 



And happy Aritk-d. the joy of God, 
Michael and Mishacl. the eternity. 
All these are at the perfect Man's command. 

And then were other two. spirits earth-horn, 
Came straightway down that avenue of light, 
As honored most of all the race of men. 
Permitted they to talk with him even 
.•\s unto God. One represented law ; 
One. prophecy. And Moses calmly walked, 
Elijah with the ardent zeal of fire. 
They stand ! .Amazed to see a perfect Man ! 
They kneel, though little men esteem him not; 
Virtue unto itself is only known. 
The Son of Man, whose prescience was divine. 
Knew Moses and Elijah, said to them, 

"The last and greatest covenant will have 
The witness of the old. nor jot of law 
Shall pass until they all shall be fulfilled. 
Moses, thy God upon Mount Sinai, 



214 



THE DIVINE MAN Book X 



The angel of the ancient covenant, 
Gave unto thee the ceremonial laws, 
They have their meaning in the kingdom new ; 
Gave thee the tables of the moral law. 
Foundation of the perfect law of love ; 
And gave to thee the tabernacle plan, 
That was the pattern of the greater house, 
Not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 

Elijah, thou, peering through mist of years. 
Rejoiced to see the dawning of this day. 
And thou didst call with fiery energy 
Thy people to repentance, entrance door 
Into the last and highest realm of man, 
Wherein to-day his nature shall be crowned." 

And here the Savior ceased, and they entranced 
Still heard the heavenly music of his voice. 

Moses as first addressed, was first to speak, 
"O thou, Great Prince of Life, the Life of lives, 
A type of thee was Abel's sacrifice ; 
After, in all religions, as in ours. 



Book X THE DIVINE MAN 215 

Is the blood oflFering, as made by fire ; 
Unknown to angels is the mystery. 
Nor yet would I presume to speak of this. 
Did not the Holy Spirit move mc thus." 

Elijah's eyes were fixed, as lonj^^ a^o, 
His fiery spirit was in vision rapt. 
As tensely bent, beneath his shading palm, 
He peered into the awful mysteries. 

"Jerusalem ! Jerusalem ! I see 
Thy double sacrifice, oflfered at once; 
The Paschal lamb is by the altar killed. 
The Lamb of God is slain outside thy gates. 
Outside? Outside thy gates? Thou I^ast no part? 
Alas, his blood is on thee as thou said-t ! 

I see that broken form which thou hast marred, 
Those hands, so bruised and torn with cruel nails, 
Are pleadingly outstretched to all the cartii. 
And on that aching brow a crown of thorns. 
Those golden locks, clotted with precious blood. 



2l6 THE DIVINE MAN Book X 

Those shoulders, gashed by the inhuman scourge, 
Those agonizing eyes, appeal to heaven. 
O hear that pleading, anguished cry for help ! 
'Eloi ! Eloi ! Lama Sabachthani ?' 
Above the din I hear the mocking cries, 
'Others he saved, he cannot save himself.' 
'Now let the king of Israel descend.' 
'Here, let him drink this vinegar and gall.' 
'Let be, and see whether Elias comes.' 
'Come, help thyself and then we will believe.' 
And from the nearby crosses comes the wail, 
'If thou be Christ, O save thyself and us.' 
Dim is the haio of the stricken brow 
In the Egyptian blackness of that gloom. 
Well might the heavens refuse to look upon 
A scene like this. And now the frightened earth 
Trembles as with a dreadful earthquake cliill, 
"Rending the temple vail, bursting the graves. 
Whose ghostly spirits shudder in the gloom. 
O hear ! A loud, heart-breaking cry to heaven ! 



Book X THE DIVINE MAN 21' 



'Father, to Thee my spirit I commend.' 

Thy head doth forward fall, and thou art dead, 
And so is faith and hope ; but love still lives 
To mock thy followers." 

Jesus serene 
And undisturbed waited unto the end, 
Then in a quiet voice uttered these words, 
To Moses said, "Thy thoughtful words are true ; 
For all the blood offered in sacrifice 
Doth represent the perfect life in mc. 
As given to man : the life is in the blood. 
In man the animal shall be subdued, 
To spirit life be made subservient." 

Then to Elijah said, "As anciently. 
Thy lips arc touched with living coals of fire. 
I know the portion of the Son of Man 
In the New Covenant. Testament in Blood. 
On him the mighty labor has been laid 
To lift the ascending human race into 
The highest realm. The sorrows he endures 



2i8 THE DIVINE MAN Book X 

Are such as would be man's enternally, 
Should he remain in his imperfect state. 
These must I feel to fully sympathize; 
My love is perfected through suffering; 
And God in me and I in them is made 
Unbroken circuit of a perfect love. 
These woes I for the race of men endure, 
Not to 'propitiate the wrath of God,' 
Neither 'avenging justice' to avert, 
Nor yet 'eternal retribution' stay; 
But out of necessary consequence 
To lift the struggling race. 

'Anger and wrath/ 
'Vengeance and fury,' spoken of our God, — 
Monstrous if literal — to barbarous minds 
And ignorant, express the strenuous 
Intent of law against the ill, and for 
The good. Our Father and our God is love; 
Love only can awaken other love, 
Her torch from her own flame ahvays alight. 



Book X THE DIVINE MAN 



219 



No oflfering can be to love but self ; 
Therefore I freely t^ve myself to love, 
A willing offering." 

When Jesus ceased, 
A wondering silence reigned throughout the hosts, 
Then, he began again in words like these, 

"It is expedient that I should go, 
Only a little while must I remain 
Bound in the narrow limits of the flesh. 
But in the Omnipresent Spirit's power 
Must soon abide in every heart and life, 
And make this love omnipotent to save." 

Moses in meekness said, "Savior, we know 
The sacrificial law requires the lam!) 
Perfect to be, no spot or blemish found 
Thereon ; nor yet the sprinkled blood can make 
Perfect the comers thereunto; thy lilood 
Sprinkling our evil consciences doth make 
Us clean indeed." 

Then Tfsiis nnswcrcfh. 



I 



220 



THE DIVINE MAN Book X 



"A three-fold type is the blood offering, 

Meaning divinest mercy, grace, and truth. 

And signifies a strict obedience ; 

For not the least of blessedness will God 

Deny to those who now obey His law. 

Transgression always has its consequence ; 

Nevertheless present obedience 

Hath full reward ; no vengeance is in love. 

And mercy is divinely infinite." 

Elijah now a brighter vision saw, 
And said, "I see ! Thy limp and pallid form 
By loving hands is taken from the cross, 
Washed and enbalmed, wrapped in its cerements, 
Laid in an unused sepulchre near by, 
A heavy stone is rolled against the door. 
The stone is sealed and Roman soldiers watch, 
Who never sleep on guard ; they watch the night, 
And through the Sabbath day, and it is night ; 
And death and hell hath seeming victory. 
The dawn ! The dawn ! nay, nay, two angels bright 



Book X THE DIVINE MAN 221 



Burst tlirougli the crystal firniaiiicnt ; now they 
Descend and roll the heavy stone away ; 
Before their power the soldiers deathlike fall. 

See! See! Who comes unbendinij from the tomb? 
The Christ I The Christ is risen ! Xo other lay 
Therein. I peer into the empty tomh. 
The folded iq:rave clothes and the napkin lie. 
The sublimated body of the Christ — 
Mine was by sweeijing chariot of fire — 
Is spiritized, etherial essence now, 
And of the universal medium ; 
So has the freedom of tiie universe, 
The omnipresence of creation's Lord. 
He to his heavenly Father has returned. 
Who dwclleth everywhere, and so can be 
In every loving soul, wherever found. 
At death, in person he the spirit greets, 
Welcomes into his paradise of joy 
And peace forevermore. This power ilivine 
Is given him without restraint, even 



222 THE DIVINE MAN Book X 

To glorify himself and all of his." 

Then Jesus said, so that the many heard, 
"I am the resurrection and the life ; 
He that believeth in me, though he were dead, 
Yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth 
And believeth in me shall never die." 

Moses the great and stern, but meek and good, 
To Jesus said, "Behold the wonderful 
Resources of our God ; to guard against 
Intrusion He has called from distant spheres 
Legions of angels ; called as witnesses 
Spirits of men of every age and clime, 
Two of the ancient covenant of law 
And prophecy, and these three in the flesh. 
All are to seal this Testament of Love, 
Giving to man his great inheritance. 
And this new covenant you freely make?" 

Jesus with quiet voice replied, 
"I Do.^^ 

Redeemed ! Redeemed ! The World Has Been Redeemed ! 



BooU X THE DIVINE MAN 

Approving light flashed through the wailing hosts, 

The earth, and heavens with dazzling glory blazed. 

Their distant lights extinguished in that flame. 

In the sixth nature of our being spread 

The wide extent, from world to distant world 

The glorious gospel flew, and widening 

Forever through eternal space and time. 

Pulses anew the living light of love. 

For at this place and time was made complete 

The final sacrifice, done in consent. 

From his imperfect nature man is saved. 

Unto creation's glory is redeemed. 

And that which follows in the after days 

Is but fulfillment of this covenant. 

"Loving Omnipotence" — our language fails — 
We have such words as God. and Thou, and He, 
Misnaming the unnameable. Xo thought 
Can comprehend the incomprehensible ; 
And yet Thy oflfered grace reveals to us 
Thv nature, which we Abba Father call. 



223 



224 



THE DIVINE MAN Book X 



O Angel One, now touch my mortal lips 
With fire, that I may but a little tell 
Of truth. 

Jesus, exponent of this love, 
In triumph walked along that shining way, 
At either hand the prophet and the seer, 
The three honored disciples following; 
The twelve great leaders of the legions made 
An escort worthy. Ever as they pass 
Along that glittering avenue the glow 
Of joy increased of spirits reverent ; 
Erect, intent, the watchful angels stood, 
That nothing interfere; the Son of Man 
Must be entirely free. 

And now, behold, 
Over the center of that mountain stands 
A great rotunda made of spirit forms ; 
Pillared around that circle stood the twelve. 
Backed by the serried ranks of heaven ; and those 
Most honored formed a firmament above, 



Book X THE DIVINE MAN 22$ 



Alive with \j^\\nt of winps. and trailing robes. 

And flash of crowns, and joy of wavinjx palms. 

Exalted in that dome's meridian 

Was set the crown of heaven ; each jewel gave 

Its primal color to the perfect rays. 

And every priceless gem set in that crown 

Exceeds the glory of ten thousand suns, 

On which no human eye at all might look. 

But Jesus underneath that tliadcm 
Received the glory of its heavenly light. 
His face outshone the dazzling noonday sun, 
His raiment was so glistering white and pure 
No Fuller on the earth could whiten it; 
His hair was whiter than the sun-bright snow. 
The three were mortal could not look on him, 
A misty cloud of light came over them. 
They saw him in this tempering radiance, 
And gazing on him feared to sec their Lord; 
And startled heard a voice as from the cloud, 
Saying. 'This is my well beloved Son, 



15 



226 THE DIVINE MAN Book X 

Hear him." They sec him kneeling, hands upraised 
In prayer, though not in supplication now. 
But in communion with the Father God 
In thanks and praise that he was worthy found. 
Silence for half an hour there was in heaven; 
For Man was lifted to the seventh sphere. 
Even into the godlike nature raised. 

Then was the sound of many voices heard 
As ocean's waves resounding on the shore, 
Or as the jarring thunder of the heavens^ 
And saying, "Alleluia ! Honor, power. 
Are given to Man, and every living thing 
In heaven and earth and underneath the earth, 
Or in the sea, are glorified in him. 
Salvation, riches, blessing, glory, give 
To him that sitteth on the eternal throne, 
The Innocent, forevermore. Amen!" 

And the sixth nature of our being thrilled 
The message out, from sphere to distant sphere. 
Swifter than thought, answer of joy returns. 



Book X THE DIVINE MAN 



227 



"The Infinite will raise less than a worm" — 

The meaning Hteral — "to share his power, 

Wisdom and love." What knowledge else could fill 

The universe with rapture like to this? 

To love the lovely is an easy thing, 

As holy Cherubim and Seraphim, 

But only God could love unto Himself 

Such as the life began, making them sons 

Like to the blessed Son of Man, who kneels 

In light and joy and love ineffable. 



BOOK XI 

ARGUMENT 

Overcome by the glories of the Transfiguration, Peter, 
James, and John fall into inspired trances or prophetic dreams; 
are "heavy with sleep," the record says. Their visions are of 
the future of the kingdom of heaven. Peter sees its development 
in the church, James in that of government, John in general 
human accomplishment. Those of Peter and James are given in 
this book. 

The eyes of those who yet were mortal, dazed 
And spent, could gaze no more on him so loved. 
And still the glory of his presence beat 
Upon their eyelids closed, so that they fain 
Would hide their faces in the shading earth. 
Heavy and overcome with sleep, they dreamed 
Visions inspired of what would come to pass, 
The final evolution of the race, 
The Christ transfigured in its history. 

Now Peter, who thereafter was to hold 
The triple golden keys, of faith, of love. 
And of confession, to the spiritual doors 
Of the true church, in raptured vision saw 

That did beseem to be himself, with others, 

( 2-28 ) 



Book XI THE DIVINE MAN 



229 



Assembled in an up|)cr room, devout 
In prayer and j^raisc ; the Master too was there, 
Though of till' world unseen ; he also sees 
Great cloven tongues of fire descend on each, 
Enduing them to preach the word with power. 
The spirit fire has melted them with love 
Into one spirit, purpose, and desire. 
By this new nature all are unified 
To do in love the perfect will of God. 

In this he knows the infant church is bom, 
Accordant with the earnest prayer of Christ. 

He notes the city streets below are thronged 
With the devout of every land and tongue, 
That to the yearly Passover have come. 
He marks the spirit-filled descend to jireach 
The crucified and risen Christ to them. 
Himself, as though another, leads the way, 
And fearlessly before his enemies 
Proclaims the power of th.c Christ to save. 
Jesus is ever standing by his side. 



I 



230 



THE DIVINE MAN Book XI 



Is by three thousand souls this day received. 
And even they that crucified him quail 
Before his presence ; vainly they had thought 
The Nazarene no more would trouble them. 
Now, risen from the sepulchre he works 
In mighty power, the Spirit witnessing 
In demonstration of his truth. 

Again, 
The first disciple, in his vision saw 
The early church assembled, worshipping 
With prayer and song and glad experience, 
The loving Jesus also in their midst. 
They are not gowned, but dressed in common garb. 
The secret room is plain and unadorned. 
In breaking bread, and reading from the word, 
And works of charity, all are employed. 
And each, as by the Holy Ghost ordained. 
Does what he can ; the greatest he who serves. 
In honor each the other doth prefer. 
Their every action, by the spirit moved, 



Book XI THE DIVINE MAN 



231 



Is in its demonstration and with power. 
Their worship and their fellowship is in 
Simplicity and faith and earnestness, 
Equah'ty and Hberty and love. 
Riches of Christ they more esteem than gold, 
Or friends, or honor, yea than life itself. 
He sees for Christ they joyfully receive 
The spoiling of their goods, and suffering 
Do covet, even martyrdom. Of such 
As these he sees the Apostolic Church, 
A little flock, go forth among fierce wolves. 
The shepherd gives them care as they have need. 
He sees them scattered by the bloody fangs 
Of persecution into other lands. 
Across the distant mountains and the seas 
Bearing the light ; one life illumined, lights 
Another life, and ever widening thus, 
The bright Evangel is to fill the earth. 

Jesus, the matchless preacher, goes with them. 
As everywhere they go preaching the word, 



2^2 THE DIVINE MAN Book XI 

Upon the streets, in highways and in byways, 

In the homes, not in obtrusiveness, 

But seeking for the opportunity, 

To many in the synagogue, or on 

The river's bank, or join themselves to one 

Upon the desert road, in caves and dens, 

Deserted pits, and gruesome catacombs, 

In dungeons dark, in favor or in chains. 

Or slain with sword, or torn with hungry beasts, 

Or sawn asunder, tortured on the rack, 

Or in the flames, or on the awful cross ; 

Always rejoicing they are worthy found 

To wear the martyr's crown. 

And O, what zeal, 
What courage, patience, hope, and charity. 
Is by the Holy Ghost inspired in them I 

He sees the persecutor stricken down. 
As toward Damascus he is journeying, 
Seeking the murder of the innocent. 
To him, blind and astonished, Jesus calls ; 



Book XI THE DIVINE MAN 



233 



And he becomes a lipht, a blazing torch. 
To light the darkness of the gentile world. 

He saw, in farthest lands, churches arise, 
To which the people on the first day come. 
New Sabbath Day. to hear this gospel preached. 
On sacred desk is laid the word of God ; 
Here is the altar sanctified with prayer 
And praise and song; here Chri.^t in spirit meets 
The humble worshipper ; here kneeling humbly 
Souls are into the kingdom born anew, 
Of light and love and peace and joy. 

And now 
The sleeper's spirit leaps to see that Rome, 
The proud and cruel conqueror of the world. 
Is conquered by this overmastering love. 
On spire and dome the gilded crosses rise; 
Pagan idolatry is overcome ; 
The humble man of Nazareth, despised, 
Rejected, crucified, from Jupiter 
Wrenches the golden sceptre of the heavens. 



^34 



THE DIVINE MAN Book XI 



And all the gods and goddesses dethrones. 
His virgin mother sits in Juno's seat. 
Neither cloudcapped Olympus, thundering, 
Longer remains the heaven of the j^ods. 
Old Neptune from his pearl-lined car is hurled. 
No more his trident rules the watery depths. 
From Pluto, grim, inexorable, the keys 
Are wrested by the enemy of death. 
Nor dreaded Cerberus aflfrighting barks, 
Guarding the awful gates of hell ; Jesus 
With torch of love illumes its horrid shades. 

The Naiades and Dryades have fled, 
Leaving their sylvan haunts of vale and stream ; 

The Nereides forsake their coral caves ; 
The Oreads no more of Ida called ; 
Lares, Penates, flee the hospitable hearth; 
Lemures, Furies, Gorgons. Hydras dire, 
No more the superstitious mind affrights. 
All of these vain imaginings relax 
Their hold upon the thought and life of men. 



I 



Book XI THE DIVINE MAN 



-235 



These visions of the threat (liscij)le passed 

In leaps of centuries, the periods 

Of evolution in religious thought. 

No more the altar sinoke ascends to heaven 

I'Vom grove or hilltop or from costly shrine; 

One perfect sacrifice is now for all. 

Alas, he sees success has perils great, 
For what is precious will the robber tempt. 
Now Pride and Selfishness, Intolerance, 
And Pomp and Show, and Worldly Influence, 
And Wealth and Power, seize and usurp the church. 

Nor is he wholly pleased to see the change, 
When heathen mummery and ritual 
Are grafted onto Christianity. 
Magnificent cathedrals imitate 
The pagan temples, with buttressed w:ills and high, 
Ornate with spire and parapet and dome. 
Gable and battlement, and pinnacl'' 
With gilded cross, and figured corr.icc rich, 
And golden architrave, and ornate frieze, 



236 THE DIVINE MAN Book XI 

Great transept choir and nave, high galleries, 
Arched ceiHng, cokimned aisles, alcove and niche, 
Dim cloistered crypt, chancel and gilded rail. 
And golden altar with its crucifix, 
And lighted candles set in candlesticks 
Of gold. He sees the gowned processional 
Of mitred Prelates bear the honored cross, 
And golden censers of sweet incense swing. 
He hears the solemn chant of vested choir, 
And deep-toned thunder of the organ pipes. 
Strange contrast to the first simplicity ! 

Yet the Apostle grieved not overmuch, 
To see this pride of pageantry and form — 
Worship by images, making the eye 
An aid to thought. The purposes of God 
Are served, as in idolatry before, 
That worshipped attributes — rough scaffolding 
To build the temple true and beautiful. 

Then the disciple saw in every land 
Plain meeting houses rise. Here many come 



XI THE DIVINE MAN 



237 



T'or worsliip, only by the spirit moved, 
Again tlic earliest simplicity. 
And everywhere the watchman loud jMoclaims, 
"The just shall live by faith." "The Holy Ghost 
Shall ^'ive the witness to his saints." 

.And yet, 
After the many centuries have pas.sed, 
He notes the perfect life is far away. 
The shadows of the past obscure the light, 
And superstitious dogmas, narrow creeds 
Fetter and cramp the souls of men, as yet 
Not capable to follow of themselves 
The perfect light of truth, but wandering, 
Would license make of liberty. .\lso 
He hears them speak and sing and pray in slow 
Comparisons, or light winged metaphor. 
The vital truth obscured by imagery : 
And yet their low development requires 
This aid. The advancing Christian world is like 
A traveller benighted, on his staff 



238 THE DIVINE MAN Book XI 

He leans, until the morning clears his path. 

With rapt astonishment the sleeper notes 

The gradual progress of religious life; 

How every thing on the ascending way, 

Pleasant, or seeming adverse, helps to rise ; 

Beginning at the cross, where love is born 

To love divine ; passing the open door 

Of that new sepulchre, is met the joy 

Of heaven ; standing beneath the outstretched hands 

Of the ascending Lord, his blessed peace 

Is given ; and by the Holy Spirit's gift 

Is faith ; and dreadful persecution gives 

Courage and fortitude, longsuffering 

And patience ; also labors arduous 

Harden the sinews of their spirit strength ; 

Display and ceremony, symbols, rites. 

Increase their reverence, attention gain ; 

So that by reformation's .torch they may 

With true devotion seek the hidden truths. 

Now in his sleep he cries aloud, "I see ! 



I 



Book XI Ti : MAN 

Worship will be in fcclinj^ and in thought, 
Not superstitious awe of mystery. 
Nor nothing knowing, neither everything, 
Yet faith needs not to be irrational. 
The soul shall find eternal ecstacy 
In adding treasures to its wealth of truth. 
For love is infinite, and God is love, 
And man receives from the eternal source 
Pull mete of his enlarged capacity. 
This is the ecumenical decree 
All will accept. For now the human soul 
Becomes the temple beautiful and grand. 
Upon her golden altar purest rites 
Of love are ministered." And here he sees 
Jesus in his transfigured glory come : 
And ail the clouds of heaven are glowing saints. 
Then with ecstatic joy the sleeper cried, 
.Vmen ! Amen ! Amen I 



239 



240 



THE DIVINE MAN Book XI 



James, the disciple lying nearest, saw, 
Also in panoramic vision, scenes 
Of future progress in the governments. 
Where earthly kingdoms, as the many waves 
Upon the mobile ocean, rise and fall ; 
Ever in that ascending tide the ebb 
Is more than overcom.e. 

His dream began, 
A troubled sleep of horror and affright. 
Blackness of darkness shut him in, except 
The faintest halo of a figure strove 
Against the midnight gloom, hanging it seemed 
Upon a cross. 

"O Master! Master! Thou?" 
He cried. Then would his stricken heart have stopped 
And quickening breath had not again returned, 
Had an assuring angel not appeared 
And said, "This life shall be the central point 
Of history; the past will here have end, 
And future time shall have its date ; this now, 



I 



Book XI THE DIVINE MAN 24I 



Its only worthy present >liall become, 
True axis of the world of life and love. 

The lord of heinp^ came unto his own ; 
His own received him not. but made of him 
A perfect sacrifice. But woe to them 
By whom he goes ! 

The cruel hand of Rome, 
By Israel, was usctl to crucify 
The lord of light and life and truth ; that hand, 
Invoked in the extremcst cruelty. 
Returns upon themselves. And now behold. 
The cup of their iniquity is full. 
Where stood the cross the Roman legions camp. 
The Nation, gathered to the Passover, 
Is shut within, and starving, stark, and mad. 
The hand that smote, is surely smitten too. 
Judgment regardeth not high walls and towers. 
Then James out of his sleep cried out. 'Tlic Walls t 
They fall! See! Smoke! The city is rn fire! 
O hear the awful din of shrieks and cries. 
And dying groans, curses and shouts, and stroke 



10 



24-2 



THE DIVINE MAN Book XI 



Of sword, and crash of falling walls ! O see, 
The temple is on fire, the flames leap high 
And swirl in angry clouds the reddened smoke 1 
God smiting them for their impiety." 

And then the attentive angel said to him, 
"Not so, He adds no horror to the scene, 
And still would gather them, as tenderly 
As doth a hen her tender brood, but they 
Will not. Jerusalem ! Jerusalem ! 
Why will ye suffer such calamity?" 

The Merciful did then withhold the sight 
Of other cruelties, rapine and blood. 
The ruin and dispersion of his race ; 
Slaughtered, and sold, scattered, and peeled, and torn, 
A byword, and a hiss, no land their own. 
No government, but everywhere a Jew. 
As Jesus said, Tarry thou till I come ;' 
Sad meaning of his words, 'But ye would not/ 
The witness sorrowful unto their truth." 



Book XI THE DIVINE MAN 243 

Another, and a cheering scene appears. 
He looks across the western sea, on Rome, 
The great barbaric Mistress of the world. 
Beneath the purpling sun of Italy, 
How beautiful and how magnificent! 
She needs not walls, legions invincible 
Her guard. Along her ways are passing kings 
And royal embassies from every land ; 
And on the countless masts that throng her port, 
The flag of every nation floats. 

Thither 
The angel pointing said, "Three hundred years 
Only have pas.sed since Christ was crucified 
By Rome; and over pinnacle and dome 
The emblems of that cross are glittering. 
Here in this awful sodden mass of greed 
And superstition, lust and cruelty, 
Barbaric splendor, pride of pomp and power, 
The leaven of the gospel has been placed. 
Above her Legions floats the labarum — 



244 



THE DIVINE MAN Book XI 



Strange sign by which to conjure victory — 
Once ignominious cross, emblem of love 
In sacrifice ; that blessed name enwreathed, 
Whose birth was promised peace, goodwill to men, 
Who neither strove, nor cried, grand and serene ; 
Who said, 'Seek not your own ;' and bade them love 
Their enemies, O strange anomaly, 
Is made the banner of relentless war ; 
As if the very strength of love was turned 
Against herself. 

Now see Byzantium, 
Upon the glorious margin of that sea. 
Girdled with empires of religion, law. 
And intellect, beside the blue Aegean, 
Upon the Golden Horn, the fairest spot 
On earth, as by the ancient prophet seen. 
Divides the universal sovereignty ; 
And Grecia, land of intellect and art. 
Is conquered by the lowly Nazarene. 
For truth, unarmed, is irresistible. 



Book XI THE DIVINE MAN 



245 



Another hundred years are passed, look now." 
And the disciple, trembling in his fear, 
Inquired. "Spirit, O why docs God permit 
Those wild barbarian hordes to devastate 
And to destroy all that has been achieved? 
As locusts they are pouring from the North, 
Across the sunny fields of Southern lands, 
Xo human power can stay the awful tide; 
As a destructive storm they sweep, to bend, 
And break, and flatten in their path. 

And then, 
The angel soothingly to him replied, 
"Life is intelligent creative force. 
The oflfspring sole of the Almighty Love, 
Is the eternal genesis of growth 
In reproduction of its kind, will reach 
Its highest state on earth in luniian life. 
Nations are individual aggregates ; 
Their laws oi life will therefore be the same. 
All have their special use, that use fulfilled. 



246 THE DIVINE MAN Book XI 

Their energy declines, and death ensues. 

The rich fruition of the Roman state 

Is law ; of Greece, the mind's development ; 

Judea gives the true religion birth. 

And each, of further growth incapable, 

Will pass. 

Within that northern wilderness, 
These wild and unprotected savages 
Are taught of Nature, in her roughest moods, 
Courage and strength and fortitude ; also 
Are taught equality — her benefits 
She ever doth impartially bestow. 
Another doctrine of the Christ is wrought, 
The greatest, he who is the worthiest." 

And even as he spake, four centuries 
Have passed into the first millennium. 

Again, the soul of James is filled with fear, 
"Behold, O Spirit, hordes are following hordes; 
Rout following rout, of strange and motly bands. 
Women and children, armored men, on foot. 



Book XI THE DIVINE MAN 



247 



Or mounted, or in carts, or chariots, 

Like swarms of flies are pouring from tlu- West. 

As on the banners floating over them, 

They wear upon their baci<s a crimson cross. 

With mingled hymns, curses and cries they come. 

Angel, explain, why are they coming here?" 

And him the angel answered tenderly, 
As one whose sympathies are greatly touched, 

"Promise of heaven and fanaticism 
Urges them on to free the Holy Land 
Of infidels. Their superstitious minds 
So venerate the soil on which the Christ 
Hath walked, they miss the spirit of his life; 
And prize the wood of his true cross, and stones 
That held his three days' sepulchre, more than 
His charge, bidding them love their enemies. 
These leaving justice, mercy, truth, and love. 
Would strive for sainthood in these wild crusades. 

Hard blows will be required to break tlic thrall 
Of superstition from the race of men. 



248 THE DIVINE MAN Book XI 

And free the mind to reverence the true. 

The hated infidel, though more humane, 

Will deal the blows shall liberate the world. 

Be not afraid to see the crescent rise, 

The cross come down ; fear not the Saracen, 

And Ottoman ; for they who take the sword, 

Shall perish by the sword ; and love and truth 

Alone will ever be invincible. 

And Brahminism, Buddhism, and Moslemism, 

Confucionism, are subterranean steps 

That the Christ Spirit in the world must take. 

From low and dark idolatry, to reach 

The temple beautiful, ablaze with light 

Of the eternal and completed life. 

Again the moving vision shows armed knights 
Are riding to and fro in honor's quest. 

Thus he the mentor of the truth declared, 
"The iron hand of tyranny, relaxed, 
Has left the world in seeming anarchy 
; And petty strife. And in these ages dark 



Book XI THE DIVINE MAN 249 

The gallant knight rides fortii, with skillful lance 
And trusted sword, in tournament and fray, 
To right the wrong, defend the innocent ; 
His puissant arm alone protects the weak. 
And this the guerdon that the world receives 
The chivalrous regard of womanhood." 

Now lift your gaze across the sea and land; 
An island of the greater ocean loved. 
Appears. Here the great chart of civil rights 
Is wrested from the royal arrogance. 

Look farther on across that ocean wide, 
Behold a glorious hemisphere entire. 
Great continents in the wide oceans kept, 
To be the coming home of liberty. 
The glowing sun, upon his western way. 
Looks o'er its mountain walls, and wide extent 
Of fertile plain, its many winding streams, 
And rivers flowing full ; and looking back, 
Along the hither ocean's trembling waves, 



250 THE DIVINE MAN Book XI 

Smiles on the western, high, and rocky walls. 
A ship across the hither ocean sails : 
The heaven sent breezes waft her to the West. 
Ocean rejoices in her many waves, 
And ever following the sun, that ship 
Beareth the righteous seeds of destiny, 
To plant them in that rich and virgin soil ; 
No civil and religious caste to thwart 
Their growth. 

Now, look again upon that land.'^ 
And James replied, "O wonderful ! I see 
The hills and valleys of that continent 
Are of the forest and tliC jungle cleared; 
Gardens and farms are rich and beautiful; 
Hamlets and schools, churches and villages, 
Cities magnificent, are in this land 
Between the distant seas." 

The angel said, 
"See you that banner floating on the breeze, 
Long waving bars of red and purest white ; 







S 



n 



«^' 



f 



^- 



.SV«* .V(>« .v<"» Innnit-r //(i(i/i»>,' ixi the brcczc 
The joyous hrralli of Iwazm is in its folds. 



Book XI THE DIVINE MAN 251 

Mark in its ficUl of blue arc many stars ; 

Emblem of union and of liberty. 

Higb on tile staff the royal eatjle perched, 

Has plumed its wings for empyrean flight, 

Not as the ancient Roman falcon, gyved 

For conquest, but to guard the people's rights." 

Then James, "O now I see this hemisphere, 
In the far ocean was reserved to be 
The cradle of religious liberty." 

The angel said, "The true millennium 
Think not has come, the way yet long and hard ; 
The conquest of the world is far away. 
The kingdom of the Christ is not complete. 
Until each individual shall be 
The government, in wisdom capable. 
In love united to the central power. 
The rule supreme of heaven in highest law. 
Then shall the glorious kingdom of the heart. 
Be the united kingdom of our God, 
And of His Christ, in true conformity 
Of union and of strength. Tlicn Christ shall come 



252 THE DIVINE MAN Book XI 

In the clouds of heaven, with angels and with saints. 

On an exalted throne of liberty 

And love, set over all the earth, then we 

Shall reign with him forevermore. Amen! 



BOOK XII 

ARGUMENT 

The first half of Johns vision is allegorical. He first nar- 
rates his vision of idolatry, then of worry, of the wild state of 
the unregenerate heart, of greed, and of appetite. At last the 
great and decisive haltle of Armageddon is fought, in which 
every evil thing is swept away by the power of true enlighten- 
ment. 

Tile second half of the book is literal, showing how the world 
shall be when the kingdom of Christ has fully come. The book 
ends with the charge of Jesus to secrecy until he has raised the 
world to a comprehension of these mysteries. 

John, the most loved because most loving, was 
The first disciple to be overcome 
By the effulgence of the honored Christ, 
For all too ardent was his loving gaze. 

He afterward in the Apocalypse, 

In a prophetic mystery, concealed 

For future times the glories of that day. 

This is the vision that he now beheld, 

Told by himself. 

"I saw this great round world 
(2«3) 



254 THE DIVINE MAN Book XII 

By unseen thread of love's attraction held, 
Around its constant yearly orbit swing, 
Dated from Christ's nativity ; and still, 
Through the enfolding drapery of cloud 
The shadows on the earth were deepening; 
The gospel light was crimsoned in its gloom, 
And made a ghastlier obscurity. 

The old world creatures that I saw therein 
Appeared more hideous. One dreadful bird 
Had great protruding eyes that restless turned, 
As one who fears he knows not what, and sees 
Too much, but nothing rightly sees, and stares 
With shrinking fear and dread at common things. 
And it was hideous, almost featherless, , 

Its wide, enormous mouth was wide agape 
To swallow every thing was put therein. 

Then one so fair he seemed the son of God, 
Stood by me, saying, 'You abhor yon bird, 
From egg of reptile superstition hatched — 
Idolatry. 



Book XII THE DIVINE MAN 



255 



But see the feathers start 
Shall plume his flight above the sun and moon, 
Even above the realm of worship; yea, 
It shall the heaven of adoration soar." 

A second look into the darkness showed, 
Unseen before, a cloud of insects winged, 
Of every color, yellow, red, and blue, 
And black, their wings a strident minor sing. 
I saw them brushed away as gauzy things, 
And yet they would persistently return, 
With tiny stings their poison would inject, 
Until the fevered frenzy of the brain 
Did paralyze and kill. 

Slowly, a great 
And mighty Spirit from the earth arose ; 
Its spreading wings were of such wide extent 
The globe entire was fanned ; these dreadful clouds 
Of Christ-forbidden worry ings were swept 
Away, and let the blessed sunlight in. 
Filling that infinite serene of light. 



256 THE DIVINE MAN Book XII 

That spirit floated in a sea of peace. 
The angel's name, I heard, was "Righteous Prayer;" 
The twain of wings wherewith it flew were trust 
And gratitude. 

Looking again, I saw 
A forest wild and wide, the dreadful haunt 
Of every cruelty ; of ravenous beast 
And every dreaded reptile the abode. 
That through its dank and shadowy jungle creeps. 
I heard the lion's terrifying roar, 
The howl of wolf, hyena's infant cry, 
And jackal's bark, and dismal hoot of owls; 
Woe to the sheep is in its tangle lost! 
Surely the pasture fields will keep their guard, 
Even the fold has need to be secure. 

Then as I trembled greatly at the sight, 
The fairest angel that was ever seen 
Came wafting out of heaven in robes of sheen. 
She held a golden glass was polished bright, 
A dazzling crucifix was on her heart; 
Her finger pointed to that wilderness. 



Book XII THE DIVINE MAN 



257 



As from the coiuinj^ morn llceth the night, 
I saw it as a hideous dream depart, 
Leaving the fertile vales in golden dress, 
And sunny slopes of purple clustered vine, 
With peaceful pastured hills, and meadows green. 

At once I knew her to he Lovk Divink. 
Her lips like petals of the summer's queen 
Opened, and as a perfume-laden breeze 
Her breath brought to me cheering words like these. 

"The reptile and carnivora invade 
The higher nature of the human heart, 
And make of it their wild and jungle lair, 
Wherein there steals the cunning of the cat, 
And haughty arrogance of roaring beast, 
Hyena impudence and treachery, 
And terrifying hoot and poisoned fang 
Of envy, malice, cruelty, deceit. 
Of anger, greediness, and vanity- 
Ah. dreadful is the fate of innocence! 

Yet the fair golden sun I bear, sometime 

17 



258 



THE DIVINE MAN Book XII 



The desert of the human heart shall cleanse 

And cheer, and make it blossom as the rose. 

Its sunny fields shall have security 

Of peace, wherein the fruitage of the earth 

Is to the full enjoyed, nothing to mar, 

Or make afraid, in all these holy hills." 

And still I knew the age was far away 

In which the heart should be so cleansed and blest. 

Over the wide and fertile earth was seen 

Great waving fields of ripened, golden grain. 

Around that harvest was a multitude, 

Some almost starved, with pleading, outstretched hands. 

Begged for enough to satisfy their need. 

For all about this plenteousness were droves 

Of long-nosed, hungry swine, trampling it down. 

Starving themselves, their bristly, callous skins 

Covered unsightly skeletons of greed. 

Long, cruel tusks protruded from their jaws, 

Beneath their heavy ears were cunning eyes, 

And after them their teasing offspring squealed. 



Book XII THE DIVINE MAN 259 

Out of the sea I saw a dragon rise, 
The waves fled frightened to their deepest caves, 
The sun was darkened hy his wings extent. 
He flew low down along the startled earth. 
And all the swiin'sh herd he soon devoured. 
A voice was heard in heaven, saying, 'Judgment 
Has cleansed the earth of swinish avarice. 
Monopolies and hoarding selfishness — 
The greedy nature of the under world — 
Sweet charity would trample under foot. 
Would turn again and rend. Therefore, behold, 
The terrors of the law persuadcth men." 

Again, I knew the coming of that day 
Must be with gradual development: 
For over all the earth great breathing holes 
Of Hell broke forth ; the atmosphere became 
A choking stench. Into these gaping pits 
The slaves of appetite unpitied fell. 
Out of these burning craters devils flew, 
Misshapen, horrid things, to hurt the earth. 



26o THE DIVINE MAN Book XII 



These fiery vampires held with griping claws, 
And with their hot and poisonous breath destroyed. 
I looked to see how God could wait so long. 
Justice I saw at last — Mercy was spurned — 
Stand on the earth with ghttering sword upraised, 
And cry, "How long ! How long ! O Lord how long !" 

Upward to God that awful tempest rose, 
Earth's woes were in the dreadful midnight cloud ; 
Her cursings flashed in lightning's fiercest glare ; 
And groans in thunders rolled along the heavens ; 
All sighs and wails were in the whirlwind shrieked ; 
All tears united in a deluge poured. 

And then the angel sword of Justice falls, 
Fierce appetite is slain. Mountains and hills 
And loosened rocks are thrown and piled upon 
These pits of hell and alcoholic fumes. 
Brightly the sun of righteousness appears 
With clearing beams, and all the atmosphere 
Is fresh and cool, the birds and flowers awake. 
Perfume and song gladden the earth redeemed. 



Book XII THE DIVINE MAN 261 

And still, I knew this happy, golden day 
Must wait the ages' slow dcvelopincnt. 

A sight more dreadful met my frightened gaze 
Than ever had heen seen on earth before, 
For on the plains of Armageddon drew 
Apollyon with his destroying hosts, 
Gathered from every quarter of the earth. 
Nothing remained to harm or make afraid, 
From giant error stalking wide and armed, 
Unto the tiny faults more dangerous, 
Because so numerous and little seen. 

The .'\rch Deceiver and Destroyer led 
His hosts, darkening the plain like storm and night. 
The shield he bore, a mighty hemisphere. 
Frightened the earth entire with dim eclipse, 
His lofty spear gleamed as a baleful star, 
A fiery dragon on his helmet perched. 

r 
« 

And in the lightning flashes, I beheld 
Mammon was following. Of dazzling gold 
His armor was. bv all his horde admired. 



262 THE DIVINE MAN Book XII 

And in that throng were kings who had no need ; 
And beggars too who loved their scanty coin. 
Ashamed I am to say it — there were priests 
Who golden mitres wore, and ministers 
Who loved the fleece more than they did the sheep ; 
And there were misers gripping bags of gold. 

And following was Vanity, whose power 
Is little less, with peacock feathers stuck. 
And mincing strut, she leads her fickle bands. 
Their gauzy banner scarce could bear the breeze 
That floated it. 

And proud Ambition then 
Upon a prancing charger rode, armored 
With showy panoply ; and power was given 
To hurt the third part of the earth. 

Then was 
An earthquake ; from its fiery rendings flew 
Great clouds of locusts, covering the land, 
To bite and to devour, with poisoned stings 
; Like scorpions ; and in those awful swarms 



ncol: XI i THE DIVINE MAN 263 

Were sins of every kind, of lust abhorred, 
Intemperance and gluttony, and theft, 
Lying and all deceit, and robbery. 
And murder, loo ; I cannot speak of all. 
Diseases followed in malarial clouds, 
Twisting rheumatics, scorching fevers hot, 
And shaking ague's chill, nausea, and thirst, 
Weak shrunken palsy, painful swollen gout. 
Microbe, tubercular or cancerous. 

And over all. Death's sable bann> r cast 
A shadow dark, and hungry snarling dogs 
Followed, and vultures soared the dark oliscure. 

Hark ! Hark I A voice out of the utmost heavens, 
As through a trumpet blown, saying, 

"Rchold ! 
The King of He.wen rides forth to victory!" 

High in the clouds a dazzling throne I saw ; 
In the bright halo of that throne was wreathed 



264 THE DIVINE MAN Book XII 

The fairest company was ever seen 

Since earth was made. And all the shining clouds 

Glittered with joyous wings of light. Hearken ! 

They sing ! "The Prince of wisdom, power and love, 

Of light and truth, of peace and purity, 

Of grace and joy, supreme, has come to earth. 

Ride forth ! Ride forth, O God, to victory ! 

And sin and sorrow shall be driven hence. 

Who conquereth not with earthly armament. 

Not even with the riving thunderbolt, 

But with the strength of true enlightenment." 

And then I saw His hosts no armor wore 
But the celestial and embosomed light. 
Proceeding from that blissful source of light, 
To meet the gathered remnant of this world's 
Destructive forces. Yet from that radiance 
The hordes of Armageddon fled like mist 
Before the brightness of the rising sun, 
Dispersed to be no more eternally. 

Then, I the sound of many voices heard, 



I 



Book XII THE DIVINE MAN 



265 



Would drown the loudest thundering, saying, 
"Now let the Savior King, with all his saints, 
Dwell on the earth redeemed to life and lij^ht 
Forcvcrmorc. Amen." 



Thenceforth, my dream, 
Though hard to understand, was literal. 

Invention had the lower nature served, 
In superstition, and in cruelty : 
With toil of millions built the pyramids, 
Great monuments of human vanity. 
And art was made to chisel heathen gods, 
Lal)or tlK'ir |)illarcd temples to adorn ; 
Was busied making maps impossible. 
Lines in the heavens concentric or oblique, 
The vain deceptions of astrolog>-. 
And history was of th'- fabulous. 
Sweet Poesy the laurel wreath entwines 
For bloody and inhuman conquerors. 



266 THE DIVINE MAN Book XII 

But in the heavenly kingdom, I beheld 
Invention laboring to bless and save, 
Rather than to destroy an enemy. 
Benevolence, utility, and truth, 
Were nov^ her aim. The earth for such as these 
Yieldeth her store of useful minerals ; 
The animals are for that use improved; 
And all the luscious fruits are perfected. 
In all the earth I saw invention work 
To break the sweaty curse of toil for bread ; 
For now is heard the click of the machine ; 
Nor tired reaper o'er the sickle bends ; 
Nor mower in the morning whets his scythe ; 
And plows in gangs now turn the fertile glebe ; 
And harrows winged break up the darkened mould ; 
And many iron fingers drill the seed; 
The husbandman rejoices in his work. 

Saw I great thundering trains run here and there, 
Spanning upon their level tracks of steel 
The continents ; some are long caravans 



Baok XII THE DIVINE MAN 267 

Of merchandise ; some, splendid palaces, 
In wliicli the happy occupants arc whirled 
Lx)ng journeys in the ^eatest luxury. 

And wondering I saw enormous ships, 
Deep bosomed, and unmoved by wind or wave, 
Like fleetest greyhounds they now cross the seas, 
Dreaded no more. 

And then meseemed I stood 
Upon a hill, and it was ni.c;hi, and clear. 
And yet I saw not the familiar stars, 
For moving lights filled all the lower heavens. 
As numerous as fireflies o'er the marsh. 
Only the highest moved in glittering zones. 
For east and west, or north and south they go. 
Collision to avoid. The foremost light 
Of each was clear, the rear was red. the right 
Was yellow, blue the left, above was pink, 
Below was green ; so that these shining ways 
With seeming rainbow arches barrod the heavens. 
Below, the lights were floating lojsurely, 



268 THE DIVINE MAN Book XII 



Ascended or descended carefully. 

One of these aeronautes wafted down 
To where I stood ; the occupant bid me 
To enter and be seated by his side. 
Then it arose with motion unobserved, 
Unless we looked on the receding earth, 
Or felt the meeting breezes cool. Awhile 
We sat in silence to enjoy the scene. 
When my companion saw my wondering look, 
He said, "You from those ancient times have come 
When man was governed by environment, 
Ere nature had been subjected to him, 
Who, under God has now become supreme. 
Even those ancient desolating storms 
Are .harnessed now and made to work his will ; 
Even those wild ungovernable winds 
Are now controlled and willingly obey ; 
The fierce destructive lightning has become 
Docile to labor as the patient ox ; 



Book XII THE DIVINE MAN 269 

The desoLitinj^ floods arc made to serve; 
And moist or dry or hot or cold, or li(;ht 
Or dark, is had at will. Now you perceive 
The lij^ht is so controlled we for awhile 
Will have what would be anciently called uiji^ht." 

Then I with stammering addressed the man. 
"We little dreamed when following the Christ, 
In humi)le ministry, sowing the seeds 
Of truth — for I was his disciple then — 
That it would come to this. He told us then 
His kingdom was of heaven, and he was come 
F"rom God ; that we should also reign with him, 
And greater works should do than he had done. 

I see the principles he gave the world 
Have wrought what then would be called miracle. 
The glory of his realm is now made known. 
We saw him on the mount, with glory crowned, 
Accept the government wiiich you possess. 

But tell me. Rabbi, what of earthly things 
Did most this heavenly kingdom to advance?" 



270 THE DIVINE MAN Book XII 

He, as if pleased to have me question him, 
Replied, 

"As is well known, the printed pa^c ; 
There, thought was fixed and knowledge was preserved. 
Was made accessible to rich and poor. 
Christ in the flesh gave utterance to few, 
But through this agency to every man. 
And there, invention and discovery 
With science true had cumulative growth. 

Not now fully can be explained to you 
The calculation intricate by which 
The very earth's polarity is changed, 
A weekly as a daily turning given ; 
So that the cheering ardor of the sun 
Is equally enjoyed in every part; 
One zone blesses the happy earth entire; 
The seasons are united into one, 
The springing bud, and the expanding leaf. 
The opening blossom and the ripening fruit ; 

Together grow. The careful processes 



Book XII THE DIVINE MAN 271 

By which this giant labor has been wrought, 
In which the mighty forces of the earth 
Arc subjected unto the mind of man, 
Arc based on sciences that must be learned 
Ere you can understand. 

Again we have 
What we have called the Etherscope, by which 
We see, and also can communicate, 
Either around the world or through; even 
To neighboring worlds we have extended it. 
A simple instrument, not more complex 
Than is the eye or ear. We wonder now 
That it was undiscovered for so long. 
Using the ether that pervades all space 
And matter too, in which the light is winged, 
Attraction draws, and spirits pass from sphere 
To sphere, as in their presence wc converse 
With such as have like power." 

Amazed, 1 said, 
"Bear with me. Rabbi, if 1 speak again. 



272 THE DIVINE MAN Book XII 



For every thing appears so wonderful ; 
Yet I would ask you of your government." 
"We have no kingdoms or republics now," 
He said, "simply a perfect unity. 
Each person is an independent state, 
The law of love alone controls, unites 
Into the universal reign of heaven. 
I know how strange triumphant love appears, 
To one who lived when love was crucified. 

Before the aeronautis came for you, 
Then was I reading in an ancient book. 
It was a history of kings and queens — 
We all are now — and desolating wars. 
The greatest heroes, greatest butchers then; 
The greatest heroes, greatest lovers now. 
Then law protected right of property 
Unlimited ; whilst many gave their lives 
In toil for bare subsistence, even that 
Was lacking many times. Then locks and bars 
Must be to keep the treasure safe ; but now 



Book XII THE DIVINE MAN 



273 



To keep us from loo penerous supply. 
Wc gain alone to give, and not to keep. ■ 

Treasures of thought, and blessed ministry » 

Of the affections are the most esteemed." 

Once more I spake. "Vouchsafe to hear again. 
The teachings of the Christ are only now 
Become entirely practical ; before, 
They only were the perfect ideals. 
The spirit work! was like a gateless wall — 
At least none opened outward unto us, , ^ 

•And we were torn with sorrow when our friends. 
Would pass into the great and dread unknown. 
In vision I have seen that all disease 
Is overcome, and the decay of age 
Can he arrested in eternal youth ; 
And even dreaded death will be no more ; 
And love is no more hurt by fear of loss. 
"How far does spiritual knowledge now extend?** 
My teacher answered almost eagerly, 
"The apprehension of the spiritual 



*18 



274 



THE DIVINE MAN Book XII 



Is so familiar and so natural, 

It has become a science plain and true. 

You only recognized the fleshly sense ; 

Our sevenfold nature we can apprehend, 

And that each nature has a kindred sense. 

All knowledge through these avenues we gain; 

The impulse that recalls impressions made 

Is memory; repeated and combined, 

Is reason; motions they create in us, 

Affection, feeling, sensibility. 

Eternity becomes a treasure store 

Of golden grains, or string of precious pearls 

Unbroken. Ask not of the spirits then 

To scatter them in idle vanity; 

They answer not to curiosity, 

To compliment or selfish interest, 

Or unimportant questionings. 

Seek ye 
In purity of heart for spirit sight, 
JEven of God; in perfect quietude 



Book XII THE DIVINE MAN 



275 



Hear the assurance that thou art his child ; 

In preat desire partake of righteousness; 

And in their presence feci the spirits touch ; 

Breathe the aroma of their hohness, 

Inspiring sweetest charity and peace, 

And wafting faith, and ever joyous hope, 

And strengthened will, and purpose pure and strong. 

These by our spirit senses we receive 

And hold and can recall at will. This all 

Is now so understood that we recall 

The loved — not lost — as tangibly as when 

We knew them in the flesh." And whilst he spake 

The acronautis. in the which we rode, 

Swiftly ascended through prismatic lights 

Floating around, and through the aerozones 

Of travel, to the open firmament 

Of the familiar stars. 

"Seest thou yon light" 
My master said, "of crimson radiance? 
Simply a brighter star it seems to you. 



^76 THE DIVINE MAN Book XII 

I see it as a sister world to this, 
Can see and speak with its inhabitants. 
And one whom you so dearly loved is there ; 
The beauteous housing, of a fairer soul, 
You laid with sorrow in the sepulchre. 
In proof of what I say, I will request 
Her long, so longed-for presence here." 

Ah Heart 
Of Mine ! There stood my darling Miriam, 
My sweet, my own, just as in earthly life. 
With beaming look of recognizing love, 
I threw my arms about her — and awoke. 

Jesus, with Peter and with James, stood near. 
And Peter said, not knowing what to say, 
"Master, how blessed is this place ; let us 
Three tabernacles make ; one make for thee, 
And one for Moses, and Elias one." 
And Jesus said, "My work I must complete. 
Tell ye no man what ye have seen and heard. 




.ill lu\ii: 
Uf miiu-! Tin- re stood my darling Miruiiii. 
My s-u'i\-t. my otcn, just as in earthly life, 
ll'ith beaming lonl- •■/ i.;<"^ni:ini: lore. 



Book XII THE DIVINE MAN 277 

Until I have arisen from the dead, 
And of my leather liavc been glorified 
Again; to reign with Him forevermore. 

Amen." 






278 EPITHALAMIUM. 



EPITHALAMIUM 

I thank Thee, dearest Lord ; the song is grand 
And sweet to me, whatever others think, 
From bursting matin, to the vesper close, 
From youth to age — nay, nay, there is no age 
Of spirit, but an ever growing life. 
Love Song it was, and is, ever shall be, 
Of shout, of carol, canticle, of hymn. 
Thy voice opens the gates of paradise, 
And leads the universal choir that sings 
The blissful and eternal harmonies, 
Gloria in Excelsis ! Gloria Dei ! 
O Fairest One, for undivided love, 
Thou passeth by wisdom, learning, fame ; and thus 
The God of Love is honored most. 



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How to Read 
I his Book 



To those who have become literary inebriatt-s by 
\c rt-ading of the tof> common li^ht litera- 
t present time; to those wh(j no longer need 

tlie unsightly scafTolding of dogmas and creeds, but 
Ijavc no desire to batter down that which is of use to 
many Iessad\anced lives; to those who quietly though 
c-andidly think for themselves . we come with what 
we think is an embodiment of the advanced intellec- 
tual and religious thought of today. 

in tiriltf that you njay get the most out of the 
rt.niiii)^ >>l thl•^ l)ook, we ask you to read it a sentence, 
a paragraph, a page, or at the very extreme, a book, 
at a time Vou can not cram the mind with any 
better results than you can the stomach .Always 
read with an apj)etite; when that is satisfied, stojj, 
lay the lK>ok in a convenient place and at your desire 
take it up again. In the very beginning we ask you 
to wei^h everything by this standard, IS IT TRCK? 

ir after you have read it thus carefully you are 
not a wider, better, stronger, happier man; if your 
faith has not become the substance; if you do not 
understand fiod and human life better, you ought to 
read it again. 

In every soul there is at least a seed of heavenly 
life, a spark of divinity. No soul is totally depraved. 
Water and cultivate that .seed, fan that spark, by act- 
ing on right conceptions of duty and obedience. 

Every life that is helped by this B(X)k should give 

( ',iu\ thi- (".I(>r\ 

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